Method and apparatus for forming a font and the font produced method and apparatus for drawing a blurred figure

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for forming a font of a character or a symbol including inputting a plurality of coordinate data lying on a contour of a stroke specifying a dash of the character or the symbol, preparing data of the stroke including a plurality of input coordinate data, having one of the input coordinate data as coordinate data specifying the beginning point of the stroke or as coordinate data specifying the end point of the stroke, and forming a font of the character or the symbol including the data of one or more of the strokes. The invention also includes a method of determining whether a portion of the font of the character or symbol is blurred or bled, and alters the font of the character or symbol accordingly. The determination of blurring or bleeding may be made based upon at least one of ink quantity, writing speed, paper construction, or other appropriate factors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a fontemployed for displaying a blurred or bled character or symbol on adisplay device. The present invention also relates to a font produced bysuch method and apparatus. This invention relates to a method andapparatus for representing a blurred figure on a display device using acomputer.

2. Related Art

When displaying a character or a symbol on a display device using acomputer, the character or the symbol is displayed on the display devicebased upon the font of the character or the symbol.

Such font may be exemplified by a bit map font defined by a matrix of,for example, 24×24 dots, for displaying the character or the symbol by aset of these dots, or an outline font defined by plural points on acontour of the character or the symbol and a curve interconnecting thesepoints for displaying the character or the symbol by a curveinterconnecting these points.

These conventional fonts only contain data concerning the contour of thecharacter or the symbol. The contour line of the character or the symboldisplayed based upon these fonts tends to be straightforward, that is,the portions inside and outside the contour line of the character or thesymbol are unified in color, such as in black and white, respectively.

When the character or the symbol is actually written in the paper sheetwith e.g., a writing brush, bleeding tends to be produced around thecharacter or the symbol, or the character or the symbol tends to undergoblurring. Thus the character or the symbol is not necessarilystraightforward in contour.

Such bleeding or blurring represents crucial factors especially when acharacter or a symbol is written on a paper sheet with a writing brush.That is, when the character or the symbol is actually written on thepaper sheet, the effect of blurring or bleeding is taken into accountfor more expressive representation of the character or the symbol.

If, when the character or the symbol is displayed on a display deviceusing a computer, such blurred or bled character or symbol can bedisplayed, the character or the symbol can be displayed moreexpressively.

However, the conventional font consists only of data concerning thecontour of the character or the symbol, as described above, such thatthe contour of the character or the symbol is drawn straightforwardly,with the inside and the outside of the contour being unified in color,such as in black color and in white color. That is, there has up to nownot been known a font capable of displaying the blurred or bledcharacter or symbol on the display device.

Since there lacks up to now a font capable of displaying the blurred orbled character or symbol on the display device, there also are not knowna method or apparatus for forming a font capable of displaying theblurred or bled character or symbol on the display device.

In computer graphics for drawing a picture using a computer, three-colordata for color display and luminance data for monochromatic display areset as picture data for each pixel as a minimum picture unit, and acorresponding figure, inclusive of characters and symbols, is displayedon a display device based upon the pixel-based picture data.

The simplest method in figure drawing by such computer graphics is toform an area surrounded by a line and to draw a figure uniformlytherein.

Since limitations are imposed on the figure representation achievablewith this method, a variety of figure drawing methods have been proposedfor enabling more expressive figure representation.

Among known figure drawing methods, there is such a method in which afigure is drawn based upon coordinated data entered by a pointingdevice, such as a mouse, as a coordinate data input device, so that thefigure is drawn in synchronism with the movements of the pointing devicefor simulating the figure drawing by a writing brush. There is also afigure drawing method in which the figure is drawn in synchronism withthe movement of the pointing device so that the color becomes thinnerwith progress in the figure drawing for simulating the writing with awriting brush and changes in color brought about by changes in the inkdensity and in the ink quantity contained in the writing brush. Inaddition, there is such a figure drawing method simulating the drawingwith an air brush by decreasing the color density n a direction towardsoutside from a designated position and by increasing the color densityas the drawing progresses.

Meanwhile, if a figure is actually drawn on the paper sheet using awriting brush containing ink, Indian ink (sumi) or water colors,collectively termed hereinafter as ink, and if the ink quantitycontained in the writing brush is small, the writing brush carryingspeed is high or the writing pressure is low, there are occasionswherein the ink is not sufficiently absorbed by the paper sheet and aportion of the figure area is devoid of ink, thus producing blurring.Such blurring is an extremely important factor in expressivenessespecially when writing a character or a symbol with a writing brush orwhen drawing a figure with water colors, especially with Indian ink(sumi).

In a conventional method for representing such blurring on a displaydevice using a computer, it is assumed that the figure is drawn with awriting brush containing the ink, and the density and the quantity ofthe ink contained in the writing brush are calculated so that the inkdensity and quantity are decreased as the figure drawing proceeds inorder to produce blurring since the time when the ink density andquantity in the writing brush have become lower than pre-set values.

It is noted that, when a figure is actually drawn with a writing brush,blurring is produced at plural positions in the figure if the figure isof an increased length, the figure has several bends or when the writingbrush carrying speed or the writing brush pressure undergoes variationsin the course of figure drawing.

With the conventional blurred figure drawing method, since the densityor the quantity of the ink contained in the writing brush is simplydecreased as the figure drawing progresses, so that only one blurredportion can be produced at an end portion of the figure and henceexpressive figure representation cannot be achieved. In particular, ablurred character written as described above is significantly inferiorin expressiveness to the character actually written with a writingbrush.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fontcapable of displaying the blurred or bled character or symbol on thedisplay device, and a method and apparatus for forming such font.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for forming afont of a character or a symbol including inputting a plurality ofcoordinate data lying on a contour of a stroke specifying a dash of thecharacter or the symbol, preparing data of the stroke including aplurality of input coordinate data, having one of the input coordinatedata as coordinate data specifying the beginning point of the stroke oras coordinate data specifying the end point of the stroke, and forming afont of the character or the symbol including the data of one or more ofthe strokes.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus forforming a font of a character or a symbol including means for inputtinga plurality of coordinate data lying on a contour of a stroke specifyinga dash of the character or symbol, means for preparing data of thestroke including a plurality of input coordinate data, having one of theinput coordinate data as coordinate data specifying the beginning pointof the stroke or as coordinate data specifying the end point of thestroke, and means for forming a font of the character or the symbolincluding the data of one or more of the strokes.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a font of acharacter or a symbol wherein the character or the symbol is made up ofone or more strokes each representing a dash of a writing brush andwherein the stroke data is made up of a plurality of coordinate dataspecifying the position of the stroke on the contour and coordinate dataspecifying the beginning point or the end point of the stroke.

According to the present invention, a plurality of coordinate data lyingon a contour of a stroke representing a dash of a character or a symbolare entered by coordinate input means. The stroke data forming meansforms stroke data made up of plural input coordinate data entered by thecoordinate input device, with one of the coordinate data being acoordinate data specifying a beginning point of the stroke or acoordinate data specifying an end point of the stroke. A character or asymbol is formed from data of one of more strokes formed by the strokedata forming means.

Since the font contains the information concerning the writing sequencefor the character or the symbol, it becomes possible to take intoaccount the movement of the writing brush writing the character or thefont and hence to display the blurred or bled character or symbol on adisplay device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for drawing a blurred figure whereby two or more blurredportions can be produced at arbitrary positions in a figure in such amanner as to assure more expressive representation.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for representinga blurred figure on a display device based upon picture data set in aplurality of pixels in a figure. With the present method, first contourdata including one or more coordinate points A_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )lying on a first contour extending from a beginning point to an endpoint of the figure and second contour data including one or morecoordinate points B_(j) (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lying on a second contourextending from the beginning point to the end point are read. A pixel Plying on a line segment l_(k) interconnecting a k'th coordinate pointA_(k) of the first contour data and a k'th coordinate point B_(k) of thesecond contour data is detected. It is then judged, based upon blurredarea data specifying a blurred area of the figure, whether or not thepixel P is within a blurred area. If the pixel P is within the blurredarea, ink absence data specifying the ink depleted state is set aspicture data in the pixel P. If the pixel P is not within the blurredarea, ink presence data specifying the ink carrying state is set aspicture data in the pixel P. A pixel Q on a line segment l_(k+1)interconnecting a (k+1)st coordinate point A_(k+1) of the first contourdata and a (k+1)st coordinate point B_(k+1) of the second contour datais detected. It is then judged, based upon the blurred area data,whether or not the pixel Q is within the blurred area. If the pixel Q iswithin the blurred area, ink absence data-specifying the ink depletedstate is set as picture data in the pixel Q, whereas, if the pixel Q isnot within the blurred area, ink presence data specifying the inkcarrying state is set as picture data in the pixel Q. A pixel R lying ona line segment interconnecting the pixels P and Q is detected. Picturedata are set in the pixel R based upon respective picture data set inthe pixels P and Q.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus forrepresenting a blurred figure on a display device based upon picturedata set in a plurality of pixels in a figure. The apparatus includesmeans for reading first contour data including one or more coordinatepoints A_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lying on a first contour extending froma beginning point to an end point of the figure and second contour dataincluding one or more coordinate points B_(j) (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lyingon a second contour extending from the beginning point to the end point,and first pixel detection means for detecting pixels on a line segmentl_(i) interconnecting a coordinate point A_(i) of the first contour dataand a coordinate point B_(i) of the second contour data based upon thefirst contour data and the second contour data supplied from the datareadout means. The apparatus also includes first picture data settingmeans for judging, based upon blurred area data specifying a blurredarea of the figure, whether or not the pixel detected by the first pixeldetection means is within a blurred area, and means for setting, if thepixel is within the blurred area, ink absence data specifying the inkdepleted state as picture data in the pixel, and setting, if the pixelis not within the blurred area, ink presence data specifying the inkcarrying state as picture data in the pixel. The apparatus also includessecond pixel detection means for detecting a pixel positionedintermediate between the pixel lying on the line segment l_(i) set bythe first pixel setting means and a pixel lying on the line segmentl_(i+1), and second picture data setting means for setting picture dataon the pixel detected by the second pixel detection means based upon thepicture data of the pixel lying on the line segment l_(i) detected bythe first picture data setting means and the picture data of the pixellying on the line segment l_(i+1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating a typical structure of apicture display system.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a character.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first stroke of the character shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second stroke of the character shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates data for a stroke.

FIG. 6 shows an example of data for the stroke shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows an example of data for the stroke shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an illustrative font formingprocessor.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of input coordinate points and straightlines interconnecting these coordinate points.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of input coordinate points and curvedlines interconnecting these coordinate points.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of the fontforming processor.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for inputting coordinate points as stroke data.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of paper fiberstructure data.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of fibers arrayed on apixel O and neighboring pixels Pi.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of apaper fiber structure data former.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing an example of data representing the shape offibers.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing an example of data representing the positionof fibers.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing an example of data representing the directionof fibers.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of apaper fiber distribution data former.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of the paperfiber distribution data former.

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view showing typical plural points arrayed atrandom by a dot arraying unit.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing typical plural points uniformedin their positions by a uniforming unit.

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing typical small areas formed by asmall area former.

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view showing typical fiber data arrayed atrandom by a random arraying unit.

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view showing typical fibers arrayed on apixel.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of acapillary tube calculating unit.

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing an Mi number of fibers, with theangles of intersection between neighboring fibers being set at random.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the operation of a light transmittancecalculating unit.

FIG. 29 shows an illustrative figure presenting blurring.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of a figure processed by a blurringprocessor.

FIG. 31 illustrates an illustrative data structure of full-contour data.

FIG. 32 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of a figure drawingtrajectory.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a blurred area represented by the blurredarea data.

FIG. 34 shows an example of a blurred area represented by blurred areadata of FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic view showing the data structure of theblurring parameters.

FIG. 36 illustrates the relation between the blurring parameters and theblurred area.

FIG. 37 illustrates interrupted blurring.

FIG. 38 illustrates continuous blurring.

FIG. 39 is a diagrammatic view showing a data structure of shape data.

FIG. 40 illustrates the curvature r_(i).

FIG. 41 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of a data structure ofpicture data.

FIG. 42 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of a data structure ofwriting brush data.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of ablurring processor.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of thewriting brush data.

FIG. 45 illustrates the state of ink quantity inputs for several pointson a writing brush.

FIG. 46 illustrates the state of ink density inputs for several pointson a writing brush.

FIG. 47 illustrates an example of the state of ink density inputs forseveral points on a writing brush.

FIG. 48 illustrates another example of the state of ink density inputsfor several points on a writing brush.

FIG. 49 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of adata reader.

FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of ablurring parameter setting unit.

FIG. 51 illustrates an illustrative data structure of speed distributiondata.

FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of anink data setting unit.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of a blurringparameter setting unit.

FIGS. 54 to 57 are flowcharts showing the continuation of the flowchartshown in FIG. 53.

FIG. 58 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of speed distributiondata and writing brush pressure distribution data prior to conversioninto bi-level data.

FIG. 59 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of speed distributiondata and writing brush pressure distribution data subsequent toconversion into bi-level data.

FIG. 60 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of writing brushcarrying data for producing blurring.

FIG. 61 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of a blurred areadata former.

FIG. 62 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of a contour dataselector.

FIG. 63 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of an ink datasetting unit.

FIG. 64 illustrates an example of an area of t_(i) =1.0, 0.5 or 0.3.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of a firstblurring parameter calculating unit.

FIG. 66 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the flow chart ofFIG. 65.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the flow chart ofFIG. 66.

FIGS. 68 to 87 illustrate examples of blurring for patterns 1 to 20,respectively.

FIG. 88 shows an example of ink held in a gap between two fibers in apixel.

FIG. 89 shows an example of an area occupied by ink held in a gapbetween two fibers in a pixel.

FIG. 90 shows an example of ink held in a gap between a n number offibers in a pixel.

FIG. 91 is a schematic view showing a capillary tube.

FIG. 92 is a block diagram showing an illustrative construction of ableeding processor.

FIG. 93 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of the number ofpixels and capillary tubes for illustrating the pixels connected by thecapillary tube.

FIG. 94 is a diagrammatic view showing another example of the number ofpixels and capillary tubes for illustrating the pixels connected by thecapillary tube.

FIG. 95 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of a branched pointpixel.

FIG. 96 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of a set of pixelsfrom a pixel A_(i) to an ink flow branching point pixel.

FIG. 97 is a diagrammatic view showing another example of a set ofpixels from a pixel A_(i) to an ink flow branching point pixel.

FIG. 98 is a diagrammatic view showing still another example of a set ofpixels from a pixel A_(i) to an ink flow branching point pixel.

FIG. 99 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of an area forproducing bleeding.

FIG. 100 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative construction ofpaper fiber structure data.

FIG. 101 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative dataconstruction of contour data.

FIG. 102 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative dataconstruction of current data.

FIG. 103 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative dataconstruction of next data.

FIG. 104 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative dataconstruction of bled picture data.

FIG. 105 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative dataconstruction of luminance data.

FIG. 106 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of a bleedingprocessor.

FIG. 107 is a flow chart showing the continuation of the flowchart shownin FIG. 106.

FIG. 108 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the flowcharts shownin FIGS. 106 and 107.

FIG. 109 is a flow chart showing the continuation of the flowchartsshown in FIGS. 106 to 109.

FIG. 110 is a flow chart showing the continuation of the flowchartsshown in FIGS. 106 to 110.

FIG. 111 is a diagrammatic view showing the method for setting bledpicture data in consideration of diffusion of ink particles on ink flowcollision.

FIG. 112 illustrates an example of a character presenting both blurringand bleeding.

FIG. 113 illustrates the contour of a figure prior to antialiasingprocessing.

FIG. 114 illustrates the contour of a figure produced by aitialiasing bybleeding processing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Overall Construction of aPicture Display System

Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the method andapparatus for producing paper fiber structure data, paper fiberstructure data, and a method and apparatus for drawing bled pictureswill be explained in detail. In the following embodiments, the presentinvention is applied to a picture display system configured fordisplaying a picture made up of a set of pixels by displaying respectivepixels based upon pixel-based picture data.

Referring to FIG. 1, the picture display system according to the presentinvention includes a data processor 10 for processing data by a centralprocessing unit (CPU), and an input device 1 supplied with input dataand configured for supplying the input data to the data processor 10.The picture display system also includes a picture readout unit 2 forgenerating image data of a figure and for supplying the image data tothe data processor 10, and an internal storage device (memory) 3 fortemporarily storing software or data required for data processing in thedata processor 10 or storing data produced by the data processor 10. Thepicture display system also includes an external storage device 4 forrecording software or data required for processing data in the dataprocessor 10 and a display device 5 for displaying picture derived fromthe data processed by the data processor 10.

The data processor 10 includes a font forming processor 20 for formingfonts required for producing picture data of bled or blurred charactersor symbols based upon image data supplied from the input device 1 orfrom the picture readout device 2, and a paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30 for forming paper fiber structure data simulatingthe paper fiber structure. The data processor 10 also includes ablurring processing unit 40 for forming picture data of a blurred figurebased upon data supplied from the input device 1, fonts formed by thefont forming processor 20 and the paper fiber structure data formed bythe paper fiber structure data former 30, and a bleeding processing unit50 for forming picture data of a bled figure based upon data suppliedfrom the input device 1 and picture data formed in the blurringprocessing unit 40.

The input device 1 is comprised of a pointing device, such as a mouse,or a keyboard. The user enters data, such as coordinate data, parametersor commands, to the input device 1. The input data is thence supplied tothe data processor 10. A plurality of such input devices may naturallybe employed in combination.

Based upon these input data, the data processor 10 forms fonts requiredfor forming picture data of bled or blurred characters or symbols in thefont processing unit 30. In addition, the data processor 10 formspicture data of a blurred figure or picture data of a bled figure in theblurring processing unit 40 or the bleeding processing unit 50,respectively.

If necessary, the data processor 10 reads out the software or datarequired for data processing from the external storage device 4 orwrites data formed by data processing in the external storage device 4.In addition, the data processor 10 reads out the software or datarequired for data processing from the memory 3 or temporarily writesdata formed by data processing in the memory 3.

That is, the memory 3 is configured for temporarily storing the softwareor data required for data processing by the data processor 10 or dataformed by data processing by the data processor 10. If need be, thesoftware or data are transmitted from the memory 3 to the data processor10 or from the data processor 10 to the memory 3. The external storagedevice 4 is configured for storing the software or data required fordata processing by the data processor 10, or data formed by dataprocessing by the data processor 10. If need be, the software or dataare read from the external storage device 4 to the data processor 10 orfrom the data processor 10 to the external storage device 4. There is noparticular limitation to the recording medium employed as the externalstorage device 4 if it is capable of storing the software or datarecorded thereon. Thus the recording medium may be enumerated by e.g. ,a hard disc, a flexible disc, a magneto-optical disc, an optical disc ora magnetic tape. A plurality of such recording media may naturally beemployed in combination.

Examples of the software include a software for forming fonts requiredfor forming picture data of bled or blurred characters or symbols, asoftware for forming paper fiber structure data simulating the paperfiber structure, a software for forming picture data of a blurred figureand a software for forming picture data of a bled figure.

Examples of the data required for data processing include existing fontsor a variety of parameters, while examples of data formed by dataprocessing include a variety of data temporarily formed by the fontforming processor 20, paper fiber structure data forming processor 30,blurring processing unit 40 or the bleeding processing unit 50, data offonts formed by font forming by the font forming processor 20, paperfiber structure data formed by paper fiber structure data forming by thepaper fiber structure data forming processor 30, picture data formed byblurring processing by the blurring processing unit 40 and picture dataformed by bleeding processing by the bleeding processing unit 50.

The data processed by the data processor 10 is displayed on the displaydevice 5. The display device 5 displays characters or symbols derivedfrom the fonts formed by the font forming processor 20, pictures derivedfrom paper structure data formed by the paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30, pictures derived from picture data formed by theblurring processing unit 40 or pictures derived from picture data formedby the bleeding processing unit 50. There is no limitation to thedisplay device 5 if it is capable of displaying data processed by thedata processor 10. Thus the display device 5 may be exemplified by adisplay unit, printer or a plotter. A plurality of such display devicesmay naturally be employed in combination.

The picture readout device 2 is configured for reading the shape of afigure and transforming it into image data which is supplied to the dataprocessor 10. The image data is employed for forming fonts in the fontforming processor 20. That is, if it is desired to form fonts whilereference is had to handwritten characters, one writes such characterson a paper sheet and image data of the characters is read into thepicture readout unit 2 so as to be thence supplied to the data processor10 for displaying a picture derived from the image data.The user enterscoordinate data, using the input device 1, such as a mouse, while havingreference to the displayed picture. The font forming processor 20 thenforms fonts using the coordinate data supplied thereto.

The picture readout device 2 is configured for reading the shape of afigure from outside and for supplying it to the data processor 10. Thusthe picture readout unit 2 may be omitted if there is no necessity ofreading the shape of the picture from outside. There is no particularlimitation to the picture readout unit 2 if it is capable oftransforming the shape of the figure into image data. Thus an imagescanner or a video camera, for example, may be employed as the picturereadout device 2. Meanwhile, a plurality of such picture readout devicesmay be employed in combination.

(2) Font Forming Processor

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 12, a preferred embodiment of the font formingprocessor 20 is explained. In the following description, a stroke meansa line of a character or a symbol. That is, a character MJ "+" shown inFIG. 2 is made up of a first stroke SR1 shown in FIG. 3 and a secondstroke SR2 shown in FIG. 4.

(2-1) Fonts

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 12, the font formed by the font formingprocessor 20 is explained.

When a character or a symbol is drawn on a paper sheet using a writingbrush, bleeding around the character or symbol or the blurring in thecharacter or symbol is produced depending on the manner in which thebrush is carried and moved. Thus, for forming picture data realisticallyrepresenting the character or the symbol as if they were actually drawnon the paper sheet with ink using the writing brush, it is necessary toscrutinize how the writing brush is moved in writing the character orthe symbol.

The font formed by the font forming processor 20 based on the aboveconsiderations is a font having data concerning the stroke direction,and is made up of data of one or more strokes. The data of each strokeis comprised of first contour data made up of plural coordinate pointssequentially indicating the positions on a contour RN1 extending from astarting point PS up to an end point PE of the stroke SR, and pluralcoordinate points sequentially indicating the positions on a contour RN2extending from the starting point PS up to the end point PE of thestroke SR, as shown for example in FIG. 5. The first contour data ismade up of coordinate points (x_(s), y_(s)) specifying the start pointPS, n coordinate points (x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂) . . . (x_(1n), y_(1n)) onthe first contour RN1 and coordinate points (x_(e), y_(e)) specifyingthe end point PE. The second contour data is made up of coordinatepoints (x_(s), y_(s)) specifying the start point PS, m coordinate points(x₂₁, y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂) . . . (x_(2m), y_(2m)) on the first contour RN2and coordinate points (x_(e), y_(e)) specifying the end point PE. It isnoted that the values of n and m are integers not less than 0 and may bethe same as or different from each other.

If, in the above described first contour data and the second data,coordinate points specifying the starting point PS is designated in thepreparation of stroke data, the so-designated coordinate points are setas the coordinate points (x_(s), y_(s)) specifying the starting point.If no particular designation has been made, the coordinate pointsentered for the first time are set as the coordinate points (x_(s),y_(s)) specifying the starting point. On the other hand, if coordinatepoints specifying the terminating point PS are designated in thepreparation of the stroke data, the so-designated coordinate points areset as the coordinate points (x_(e), y_(e)) specifying the terminatingpoint. If no particular designation has been made, the coordinate pointsentered for the last time are set as the coordinate points (x_(e),y_(e)) specifying the terminating point.

With such stroke data, since the coordinate points (x_(s), y_(s))specifying the stroke start point and the coordinate points (x_(e),y_(e)) specifying the stroke end point are set, the stroke direction isknown. Thus it becomes possible to know the movement of a writing brushwhen writing a character or a symbol represented by a font made up ofsuch stroke data. By preparing picture data of the character or symbol,based upon such font, a realistic expression may be achieved which willgive an impression as if the character or the symbol were drawn with thewriting brush.

Meanwhile, if, when the character or the symbol is drawn with ink on thepaper sheet using a writing brush, the sequence in which the characteror the symbol is drawn, that is the stroke sequence, is changed, thesequence in which the strokes are overlapped is changed, so thatbleeding or blurring produced is also changed. Thus, if picture data isto be produced so that the character or the symbol is expressed morerealistically for producing an impression as if the character or thesymbol were drawn with the writing brush, it is necessary to considerthe stroke sequence.

Thus, in the font formulated in the font forming processor 20, the dataof the respective strokes is arrayed in the writing sequence so that thestroke sequence will be known. It is noted that, if the data sequence isdesignated at the time of preparation of the stroke data, the strokedata sequence is the designated data sequence. If no particulardesignation has been made, the stroke data sequence is the inputsequence. The stroke data sequence need not be set by arraying thestroke data in the writing sequence. For example, the stroke data may beset by formulating sequence data for specifying the sequence for therespective stroke data.

Taking an example of the letter MJ, which reads "+" shown in FIG. 2, theabove-described font is explained in detail.

The letter MJ which reads "+" is made up of the first stroke SR1 shownin FIG. 3 and the second stroke SR2 shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, data of the first stroke SR1 is made up of firstcontour data comprised of a coordinate point (x_(s1), y_(s1)),specifying a start point PS1 of the first stroke SR1, e.g., four points(x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), (x₁₃, y₁₃), (x₁₄, y₁₄), and a coordinate point(x_(e1), y_(e1)) specifying an end point PE1 of the first stroke SR1,arrayed in this order, and second contour data comprised of a coordinatepoint (x_(s1), y_(s1)), specifying a start point PS1, e.g., four points(x₂₁, y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂) (x₂₃, y₂₃), (x₂₄, y₂₄) and a coordinate point(x_(e1), y_(e1)), specifying the above terminal point PE1. arrayed inthis order.

Similarly, data of the second stroke SR2 is made up of first contourdata comprised of a coordinate point (x_(s2), y_(s2)), specifying astart point PS2 of the first stroke SR2, e.g., four points (x₃₁, y₃₁),(x₃₂, y₃₂), (x₃₃, y₃₃), (x₃₄, y₃₄), and a coordinate point (x_(e2),y_(e2)) specifying an end point PE2 of the second stroke SR2, arrayed inthis order, and second contour data comprised of the coordinate point(x_(s2), y_(s2)), specifying the above-mentioned start point PS2, e.g.,three points (x₄₁, y₄₁), (x₄₂, y₄₂) and (x₄₃, y₄₃), and the coordinatepoint (x_(e2), y_(e2)), specifying the above terminal point, arrayed inthis order.

Since the sequence of the strokes SR1 and SR2 of the letter MJ whichreads "+" is the sequence of the first stroke SR1 an the second strokeSR2, data of the first stroke SR1 and data of the second stroke SR2 arearrayed in the sequence of the data of the first stroke SR1 and the dataof the second stroke SR2.

Thus the font of the letter MJ which reads "+" is comprised of data ofthe first stroke SR1 made up of the coordinate points (x_(s1), y_(s1)),(x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), (x₁₃, y₁₃), (x₁₄, y₁₄) and (x_(e1), y_(e1)),making up the first contour data, coordinate points (x_(s1), y_(s1)),(x₂₁, y₂₁) (x₂₂, y₂₂), (x₂₃, y₂₃), (x₂₄, y₂₄) and (x_(e1), y_(e1)),making up the second contour data, and data of the second stroke SR2made up of the coordinate points (x_(s2), y_(s2)), (x₃₁, y₃₁), (x₃₂,y₃₂), (x₃₃, y₃₃) and (x_(e2), y_(e2)) making up the first contour dataand the coordinate points (x_(s2), y_(s2)), (x₄₁, y₄₁), (x₄₂, y₃₂),(x₄₃, y₄₃), (x₄₄, y₄₄) and (x_(e2), y_(e2)) making up the second contourdata. The data of the first stroke SR1 and the data of the second strokeSR2 are arrayed in this order.

Although both a set of the coordinate points specifying the startingpoint and another set of the coordinate points specifying the terminalpoint are set in the above-described font, at least one of these sets ofthe coordinate points suffices in order to comprehend the strokedirection. Thus it is possible to set only the coordinate pointspecifying the stroke start point or only the coordinate pointspecifying the stroke end point as the stroke data.

With the above-described font, the stroke data are constructed by thefirst contour data containing the coordinate point specifying thestarting point and the coordinate point specifying the end point and thesecond contour data containing the coordinate point specifying thestarting point and the coordinate point specifying the end point.However, the stroke data may also be constructed by first contour datamade up only of coordinate points on the first contour excluding thecoordinate point specifying the starting point and the coordinate pointspecifying the end point and second contour data made up only ofcoordinate points on the second contour excluding the coordinate pointspecifying the starting point and the coordinate point specifying theend point.

Although the stroke data for the above font are made up only of thecoordinate points, the stroke data may also have vector data, such as inthe case of the conventional outline font, in addition to thesecoordinate points.

(2-2) Construction of Font Forming Processor

An illustrative construction of the font forming processor 20 forpreparing the above font is now explained.

Referring to FIG. 8, the font forming processor 20 includes a strokedata forming unit 21 for forming stroke data in accordance with pluralcoordinate points entered by the input device 1, and a stroke sequencesetting unit 22 for setting the sequence of data of plural strikesformed by the stroke data forming unit 21. The font forming processor 20also includes an image data readout unit 23 for reading image data ofthe character or symbol from the picture readout unit 2 for writing inthe memory 3 and an image data purveying unit 24 for reading out theimage data from the memory 3 for supplying the image data thus read outto the display unit 5. The font former similarly includes a font readoutunit 25 for reading out an existing font from the external storagedevice 4 for writing the read-out font in the memory 3 and a fontpurveying unit 26 for reading out the font from the memory 3 forsupplying the read-out font to the display device 5.

The stroke data forming unit 21 forms, based upon plural coordinatepoints entered from the input device 1, the above-mentioned stroke data,that is first contour data made up of the coordinate point (x_(s),y_(s)) specifying the starting point of the stroke SR, n coordinatepoints (x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), . . . (x_(1n),y_(1n)) on a first contourRN1 and the coordinate point (x_(e), y_(e)) specifying the end point ofthe stroke SR1 and second contour data made up of the coordinate point(x_(s), y_(s)) specifying the starting point of the stroke SR, mcoordinate points (x₂₁, y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂), . . . (x_(2m),y_(2m)) on asecond contour RN2 and the coordinate point (x_(e), y_(e)) specifyingthe end point of the stroke SR. Since each character or symbol isconstituted by one or more strokes, the stroke data forming unit 21forms data of one or more strokes for each font.

If supplied from the input device 1 with data designating the coordinatepoint specifying the starting point, the stroke data forming unit 21forms stroke data with the designated coordinate points as thecoordinate point specifying the starting point. If not supplied from theinput device 1 with data designating the coordinate point specifying thestarting point, the stroke data forming unit 21 forms stroke data withthe first-entered coordinate point as the coordinate point specifyingthe starting point. Similarly, if supplied from the input device 1 withdata designating the coordinate point specifying the end point, thestroke data forming unit 21 forms stroke data with the designatedcoordinate point as the coordinate point specifying the end point. Ifnot supplied from the input device 1 with data designating thecoordinate points specifying the end point, the stroke data forming unit21 forms stroke data with the last-entered coordinate point as thecoordinate point specifying the end point.

For ease in entering the coordinate points on the stoke contour by theinput device 1, the stroke data forming unit 21 includes displayprocessing unit 211 for displaying the matter concerning the coordinatepoints and an editing processing unit 212 for editing the coordinatepoints.

For ease in understanding the relative position of the coordinate pointsentered by the inputting device 1, that is in understanding the shaperepresented by the stroke data, the display processing unit 211 displayspoints corresponding to coordinate points entered by the input device 1on the display device 5. Also, for ease in understanding the sequence ofthe coordinate points entered by the input device 1, the displayprocessing unit 211 displays a line interconnecting the coordinatepoints in accordance with the sequence of the coordinate points enteredby the input device 1 on the display device 5.

Specifically, the display processing unit 211 displays points XY1, XY2,XY3, XY4, XY5, XY6, XY7, XY8, XY9, XY10, XY11, XY12, XY13, correspondingto coordinate points entered by the input device 1, on the displaydevice 5, while displaying straight lines XY1-2, XY2-3, XY3-4, XY4-5,XY5-6, XY7-8, XY8-9 XY9-10, XY10-11, XY11-12, XY12-13, XY13-1,interconnecting these coordinate points, as shown for example in FIG. 9.The display processing unit 211 displays the coordinate points enteredby the input device 1 and the straight lines interconnecting thesecoordinate points on the display unit 5 in order to permit the user tocomprehend easily the sequence of the input coordinate points.

Alternatively, the display processing unit 211 displays points XY1, XY2,XY3, XY4, XY5, XY6, XY7, XY8, XY9, XY10, XY11, XY12, XY13, correspondingto coordinate points entered by the input device 1, on the displaydevice 5, while displaying smooth curves XY1-2, XY2-3, XY3-4, XY4-5,XY5-6, XY6-7, XY7-8, XY8-9 XY9-10, XY10-11, XY11-12, XY12-13, XY13-1,interconnecting these coordinate points, on the display device 5, asshown for example in FIG. 10. Thus the display processing unit 211displays smooth curves interconnecting the coordinate points entered bythe input device 1 using a technique of interconnecting the respectivecoordinate points by curves such as splined curves or Bezier curves suchas is used in the conventional outline fonts. This permits the user toknow the shape of the stroke when the stroke data is complemented, aswill be explained subsequently.

When displaying the points corresponding to the entered coordinatepoints or the lines interconnecting the entered coordinate points on thedisplay unit 5, the display processing unit 211 displays the coordinatepoints specifying the starting point of the stroke, the coordinatepoints specifying the end point of the stroke and the remainingcoordinate points so as to permit facilitated visual discriminationbetween these different coordinate points. Specifically, the pointcorresponding to the coordinate point (x_(s), y_(s)) specifying thestroke start point, the point corresponding to the coordinate point(x_(e), y_(e)) specifying the stroke end point and the remainingcoordinate points (x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), . . . (x_(1n), y_(1n)), (x₂₁,y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂), . . . (x_(2m), y_(1m)) with different colors and/orluminance.

Although the display processing unit 211 displays dots and lines on thedisplay device 5 only for data of a single stroke, it as also possiblefor the display processing unit 211 to display data of plural strokessimultaneously on the display device 5. That is, the display processingunit 211 displays only data for a single stroke on the display device 5or data of plural strokes simultaneously on the display device 5 inaccordance with the instructions entered by the input device 1.

The editing processing unit 212 is responsive to commands from the inputdevice 1 to add coordinate data to the stroke data, move coordinatepoints of the stroke data one by one or collectively, or to delete thecoordinate points from the stroke data one by one or collectively. If,by the operation of the display processing unit 211, dots and lines ofdata of plural strokes are displayed on the display unit 5, the editingprocessing unit 212 is responsive to commands form the input device 1 toselect data of one of the strokes to effect processing on the data ofthe selected stroke.

The stroke sequence setting unit 22 then arrays the data of one or morestrokes formed by the stroke data forming unit 21 in accordance with thestroke data sequence for setting the sequence of the stroke data.

If supplied by the input device 1 with the stroke data sequencedesignating data from the input device 1, the stroke sequence settingunit 22 re-arrays the stroke data in the designated sequence for settingthe stroke data sequence. If not supplied by the input device 1 with thestroke data sequence designating data from the input device 1, thestroke sequence setting unit 22 arrays the stroke data in the sequencein which the stroke data is formed in the stroke data forming unit 21for setting the sequence of the stroke data.

It is unnecessary for the stroke sequence setting unit 22 to set thesequence of the respective strokes by arraying the data of therespective strokes according to the correct sequence. For example,sequence data for specifying the data of the respective strokes maynaturally be formed for setting the sequence of the respective strokes.

By forming data of one or more strokes by the stroke data forming unit21 and setting the data sequence of the respective strokes by the strokesequence setting unit 22, the fonts may be formed which are comprised ofdata of one or more strokes and in which the data sequence of therespective strokes has been set.

If, when the coordinate points on the stroke contour are entered by theinput device 1, the character or symbol corresponding to the desiredfont is displayed on the display unit 5, the coordinate points can beentered extremely easily. That is, the coordinate points can be enteredextremely easily if the coordinate points are entered by designating thepoints on the contour of the displayed character or symbol while theoperator has reference to the character or symbol displayed on thedisplay unit 5.

The image data readout unit 23, image data purveying unit 24, imagefront readout unit 25 and the font purveying unit 26 are configured forinputting the coordinate points while the letter or symbol correspondingto the desired font is displayed on the display unit 5.

That is, the image data readout unit 23 reads out image data of thecharacter or symbol corresponding to the desired font supplied from thepicture readout device 2 for writing in the memory 3. The image datapurveying unit 24 reads out the image data from the memory 3 to transmitthe read out data to the display unit 5. Since the character or symbolcorresponding to the desired font is displayed in this manner on thedisplay unit 5, the user is able to input the coordinate points whilehaving reference to the character or font displayed on the display unit5.

On the other hand, the font readout unit 25 reads out the font of thecharacter or symbol corresponding to the desired font supplied from theexternal storage device 4, and writes the read-out font in the memory 3.The font purveying unit 26 reads out the font from the memory 3 andpurveys the read-out font to the display unit 5. Since the character orsymbol corresponding to the desired font is displayed on the displayunit 5, the user is able to input the coordinate points while havingreference to the character or font displayed on the display unit 5. Thefont pre-recorded in the external storage device 4 may be any fontprovided an image of the character or symbol corresponding to the fontcan be displayed on the display unit 5. Examples of the fonts includeconventional bit map fonts, outline fonts or fonts pre-formed by thefont forming processor 20.

The illustrative operation of the font forming processor 20 is explainedby referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11.

At step ST-2-1-1, the font forming processor 20 refers to the characteror symbol drawn on the paper for judging whether or not the font is tobe formed. If the result is YES, that is if the font is to be formed,the font forming processor 20 transfers to step ST-2-1-2 and, ifotherwise, the processor 20 transfers to step ST2-1-3.

At step ST2-1-2, the font forming processor 20 displays the character orsymbol drawn on the paper on the display unit 5 before transferring tostep 2-1-5. Specifically, when the letter or symbol drawn on the paperis to be displayed on the display unit 5, the picture readout device 2transforms the shape of the character or symbol drawn on the paper intoimage data and transmits the resulting image data to the image datareadout unit 23. The image data readout unit 23 writes the image datasupplied from the picture readout unit 2 in the memory 3. The image datapurveying unit 24 reads out the image data from the memory 3 andtransmits the readout image data to the display unit 5. The display unit5 displays the picture derived from the image data purveyed from theimage data purveying unit 24.

At step ST2-1-3, the font forming processor 20 refers to the font storedin the external storage device 4. for judging whether or not the font isto be formed. If the processor refers to the font (YES), the processortransfers to step ST2-1-4. If the processor does not refer to the font(NO), it transfers to step ST2-1-5.

At step ST2-1-4, the font forming processor 20 displays the character orsymbol corresponding to the font stored in the external storage device4. The font forming processor 20 then transfers to step ST2-1-5.Specifically, if the character or symbol corresponding to the fontstored in the external storage device 4 is to be displayed on thedisplay device 5, the font readout unit 25 reads out the font from theexternal storage device 4 and writes the read-out font in the memory 3.The font purveying unit 26 then reads out the font from the memory 3 andsends the read-out font to the display device 5. The display device 5displays the picture corresponding to the font purveyed from the fontpurveying unit 26.

At step ST2-1-5, the stroke data forming unit 21 of the font formingprocessor 20 reads coordinate points entered by the user via the inputdevice 1, as will be explained subsequently. The coordinate points readby the stroke data forming unit 21 are plural coordinate points (x_(s),y_(s)), (x₁₁, y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), . . . (x_(1n), y_(1n)), (x₂₁, y₂₁),(x₂₂, y₂₂), . . . (x_(2m), y_(1m)), (x_(e), y_(e)) as shown in FIG. 5.If the character or symbol drawn on the paper is displayed on thedisplay unit 5, at step ST2-1-2, or if the character or symbolcorresponding to the existing font is displayed on the display device 5at step ST2-1-4, the user enters the stroke data via the input device 1,while having reference to the letter or symbol displayed on the displayunit 5. The display processing unit 211 displays the pointscorresponding to the input coordinate points or lines interconnectingthe input coordinate points on the display device 5 to permitfacilitated visual recognition of the input coordinate points by theuser.

At step ST2-1-6, the stroke data forming unit 21 forms, based upon thecoordinate points read out at step ST2-1-5. the stroke data comprised offirst contour data made up of coordinate points (x_(s), y_(s)), (x₁₁,y₁₁), (x₁₂, y₁₂), . . . (x_(1n),y_(1n)), (x_(e), y_(e)), and secondcontour data made up of (x_(s), y_(s)), (x₂₁, y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂). (x_(2m),y_(2m)), (x_(e), y_(e)). The leading coordinate points (x_(s), y_(s)) ofthe first and second contour data specify the start point while thetrailing coordinate points (x_(e), y_(e)) of the first and secondcontour data specify the end point. At this time, the stroke dataforming unit 21 causes the dots and lines corresponding to the strokedata to be displayed on the display unit.

Next, at step ST2-1-7, the stroke data forming unit 21 judges, basedupon the commands entered from the input device 1, whether or not theformation of data of all of the strokes of a desired font has come to aclose. If there is any data of the stroke yet to be formed (YES), theprocessor 20 reverts to step ST2-1-5. If the formation of data of allstrokes has come to a close (NO), the processor transfers to stepST2-1-8.

If the processor 20 reverts to step ST2-1-5 in order to produce data ofa new stroke, the stroke data forming unit 21 causes the dotscorresponding to the coordinate points of the data of the stroke formedpreviously and the lines interconnecting these dots to be displayed onthe display unit 5. That is, if the user is desirous to check for thebalance between the array of the previously formed stroke and that ofthe stroke to be newly formed, the user has only to display the pointscorresponding to the coordinate points of the pre-formed stroke or thelines interconnecting these coordinate points on the display processor211. If entry of the points corresponding to the coordinate points ofthe pre-formed stroke or the lines interconnecting these coordinatepoints on the display unit 5 leads to difficulties in entering thecoordinate points on the contour of a newly formed stroke, it is onlysufficient if the points corresponding to the coordinate points of thepre-formed stroke or the lines interconnecting these coordinate pointsare not displayed as described above.

At step ST2-1-8, the stroke sequence setting unit 22 sets the sequenceof data of one or more strokes formed at step ST2-1-6 by the stroke dataforming unit 21. If supplied with the stroke data sequence designatingdata from the input device 1, the stroke sequence setting unit 22re-arrays the stroke data in the designated sequence for setting thesequence of the data of the respective strokes. If not supplied with thestroke data sequence designating data from the input device 1, thestroke sequence setting unit 22 arrays data of the strokes in thesequence in which the stroke data has been formed in the stroke dataforming unit 21 for setting the sequence of data of the respectivestrokes.

By the above-described sequence of operations, the font formingprocessor 20 forms the font "+" which is formed by data of one or morestrokes and in which the sequence of the data of the respective strokesis set.

When entering the coordinate points on the stroke contour at stepST2-1-5, the user enters the following coordinate points in accordancewith the flowchart shown in FIG. 12.

At step ST2-2-1, the user enters a command of initiating the entry ofthe coordinate points to the stroke data forming unit 21, using theinput device 1, and initiates the entry of the coordinate points on thestroke contour line. At step ST-2-2-2, the user enters the coordinatepoints (x_(s), y_(s)) specifying the stroke start point to the strokedata forming unit 21 using the input device 1. At step ST-2-2-3, theuser sequentially enters the coordinate points (x₁₁, y₁₁), (X₁₂, y₁₂), .. . (x_(1n), y_(1n)) on the first contour line to the stroke dataforming unit 21 using the input device 1. Then, at step ST2-2-4, theuser enters the coordinate points (x_(e), y_(e)) specifying the strokeend point to the stroke data forming unit 21 using the input device 1.At step ST-2-2-5, the user sequentially enters the coordinate points(x₂₁, y₂₁), (x₂₂, y₂₂), . . . (x_(2m), y_(2m)) on the second contourline to the stroke data forming unit 21 using the input device 1. Atstep ST2-2-6, the user enters a command specifying the end of entry ofthe coordinate points to the stroke data forming unit 21 using the inputdevice 1 to terminate the entry of the coordinate points on the strokecontour.

Thus, when entering the coordinate points at steps ST2-2-2 to ST2-2-5,the user displays the points corresponding to the input coordinatepoints and lines interconnecting the respective coordinate points on thedisplay unit 5 using the display processor 211 as he or she enters thecoordinate points on the stroke contour. If need be, the user adds,moves or deletes the coordinates, using the editing processor 212, forediting the coordinate points as he or she enters the coordinate pointson the stroke contour.

(3) Paper Fiber Structure Data

An illustrative example of the paper fiber structure data processingunit 30 is explained by referring to FIGS. 13 to 28. In the followingdescription, a rectangular coordinate system is set in an areadisplaying a picture and pixels representing the smallest Picture unitsare arrayed in each integer number coordinate (x, y) of the rectangularcoordinate system. The region based on which the paper fiber structuredata is to be formed is a region consisting of plural pixels on therectangular coordinate system.

(3-1) Paper Fiber Structure Data

The paper fiber structure data, formed by the paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30, is first explained.

Paper is constituted by plural interconnected fibers distributed in areticular structure. The figure drawn on the paper with ink is formed bythe amount of the ink stored between the fibers. The amount of the inktrapped between the fibers, that is the absorbed quantity of ink,depends upon the fiber structure. Thus, for forming picture data inwhich the figure drawn on the paper with ink is simulated morerealistically, it is necessary to provided data simulating the paperfiber structure.

Since the ink flows through the fibers while the figure is drawn on thepaper with ink, the ink flows through the fibers, so that bleeding isproduced. The extent of the bleeding depends upon the gap between thefibers through which flows the ink. This gap is hereinafter referred toas a capillary tube. Thus, for formulating picture data in which picturedata more realistically representing the figure drawn on the paper withink, it is necessary to provide data simulating the capillary tube ofthe paper.

Based on this consideration, the paper fiber structure data, formed inthe paper fiber structure data forming processor 30, is based on fiberdata representing plural fibers constituting the paper which arearranged within an area made up of plural pixels. That is, the paperfiber structure data for the pixel P is comprised of a number M offibers passing through the pixel P, the numbers M₁, M₂, M₃, M₄, M₅, M₆,M₇, M₈ of fibers passing through the pixel P and also through eightpixels P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅, P₆, P₇, P₈ neighboring to the pixel P, andthe numbers of the capillary tubes S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆, S₇, S₈, asshown for example in FIG. 13. The eight pixels P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅, P₆,P₇, P₈ the eight numbers M₁, M₂, M₃, M₄, M₅, M₆, M₇, M₈ and the eightnumbers S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆, S₇, S₈ are denoted as P_(i), M_(i) andS_(i), respectively, where i=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The numbers offibers M, the numbers of fibers M_(i) and the numbers of capillary tubesS_(i) are represented by integers not less than 0. The numbers of fibersM, the numbers of fibers M_(i) and the numbers of capillary tubes S_(i)are set for all pixels in the areas corresponding to the paper fiberstructure data for constituting the paper fiber structure data.

The numbers of fibers M_(i) are the numbers of fibers passing throughthe pixel P and the pixels P_(i). Thus, of the numbers M_(i) of thefibers of the pixel P, those representing the fibers passing through thepixels P₆, P₅, P and P₂ in this order are the numbers M₅ and M₁, whilethe numbers of the fibers M₆ or M₂ have no relevance.

With the paper fiber structure data simulating the fine paper fiberstructure, the absorbed ink quantity can be calculated since the numbersof fibers M are set. On the other hand, the numbers of capillary tubesS_(i) formed in various directions from the pixel may be calculatedsince the numbers of fibers M_(i) are set, while the amount and thedirection of the ink flowing from the pixel to the neighboring pixelscan be calculated since the numbers of the capillary tubes S_(i) areset. Thus, by employing such paper fiber structure data, ink bleeding orabsorption can be taken into account when forming picture data of afigure drawn on the paper with ink, so that it becomes possible toprepare picture data of a more realistically represented figure.

The capillary tube is an ink conduit formed between the fibers, with thenumbers of the capillary tubes S_(i) being dependent upon the numbersM_(i) of the fibers. However, if the numbers of the capillary tubes arelarge, the width of each capillary tube is reduced, whereas, if thenumbers of the capillary tubes are small, the width of each capillarytube becomes larger. Thus, if the numbers of the capillary tubes arechanged, the sum of the ink amount flowing in the capillary tubes isthought to be substantially unchanged. Thus, for simplifying the data,the number of the capillary tubes S_(i) may be set to 1 and 0 for thenumbers of fibers M_(i) of not less than 2 and less than 2,respectively.

Specifically, the paper fiber structure data is such that, if fivefibers FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4 and FI5 are arrayed for the pixels P and P_(i)as shown for example in FIG. 14, the respective values of the paperfiber structure data for the pixel P are such that the numbers of fibersM, M₁, M₂, M₃, M₄, M₅, M₆, M₇ and M₈ are 5, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 0respectively, and the numbers of capillary tubes S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆,S₇ and S₈ are 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, respectively.

The paper fiber structure data may also comprise light transmittance Ias data for representing the paper simulating the paper by the paperfiber structure data as a picture. The light transmittance I is set forrespective pixels and represents light transmittance for each pixel. Thelight transmittance I is a value which depends upon the number M of thefibers and becomes lower and higher with increase and decrease in thenumber of fibers M, respectively. By setting the luminance of respectivepixels for the pixels encompassed by the paper fiber structure databased upon the light transmittance I, and displaying the luminance ofthe pixels on the display unit 5, the picture of the simulated paper maybe represented by the paper fiber structure, thus permitting visualrecognition of the state of the modelled or simulated paper structuredata.

(3-2) Construction of the Paper Fiber Structure Data Forming Processor

The illustrative structure of the paper fiber structure data formingprocessor 30 is now explained.

Referring to FIG. 15, the paper fiber structure data forming processor30 includes a fiber data forming unit 31 for producing fiber datarepresenting one of the fibers making up the paper and a fiberdistribution data forming unit 32 for arranging the plural fiber dataprepared by the fiber data forming unit 31 in an area comprised ofplural pixels for forming fiber distribution data representing the fiberdistribution. The paper fiber structure data forming processor 30 alsoincludes a fiber number calculation unit 33 for calculating the numbersof fibers M passing through the pixel P for each of the eight pixelsP_(i) neighboring to the pixel P, and a neighboring fiber numbercalculating unit 34 for calculating the numbers of fibers passingthrough the pixel P and also passing through the eight pixels P_(i)neighboring to the pixel P based upon the fiber distribution data formedin the fiber distribution data forming unit 32. The paper fiberstructure data forming processor 30 also includes a capillary tubenumber calculating unit 35 for calculating the numbers of capillarytubes S_(i) formed in the direction of the pixel P_(i) from the pixel Pbased upon the numbers of fibers M_(i) calculated in the fiber numbercalculating unit 34.

The paper fiber structure data forming processor 30 forms paper fiberstructure data, using the numbers of fibers M calculated by the fibernumber calculating unit 33, the numbers of fibers M_(i) calculated bythe neighboring fiber number calculating unit 34 and the numbers ofcapillary tubes S_(i) calculated by the capillary tube numbercalculating unit 35 as paper fiber structure data.

The paper fiber structure data formed by the paper fiber structureforming processor 30 is stored by being written in the memory 3 or inthe external storage device 4. When a blurred figure is to be drawn bythe blurring processor 40 or a bled figure is to be drawn by thebleeding processor, the paper fiber structure data is read out from thememory 3 or the external storage device 4 for forming picture datarepresenting a figure drawn on the paper with ink.

Meanwhile, the fiber data formed by the fiber data forming unit 31 isthe data representing one of the fibers making up the paper, and is madeup of data showing the fiber shape, fiber position data and fiberdirection data.

The data specifying the fiber shape is a part of the cosine function asshown for example in FIG. 16 and represented by the equation (3-1):

    y=a×cos (x-b)

where 0≦×≦c, and a, b and c are constants, c denoting the fiber length.It is noted that a represents the degree of bend of the fiber, suchthat, the smaller the value of a, the smaller is the bend of the fiberand, conversely, the larger the value of a, the larger is the bend ofthe fiber. The values of a, b and c may be pre-fixed or may be variedwithin a pre-set range so as to be set at random depending upon fiberdata. Alternatively, the values of a, b and c may be set to desiredoptional values entered by the input device 1 by the user or may be setat random depending upon the fiber data so to be as set to desiredoptional values entered by the input device 1 by the user.

By representing the fiber shape as a part of the cosine function asindicated by the equation (3-1), it becomes possible to represent theshape approximate to the actual paper fiber shape. However, therepresentation of the fiber shape is not limited thereto but may berepresented by e.g., part of the sine function, or part of the n-arycurve, such as a quadratic or tertiary curve.

The data representing the fiber position is e.g., the coordinate valueshowing the end of a fiber (x_(l), y₁), while the data representing thefiber direction is the angle θ indicating the fiber arraying direction.The coordinate (x₁, y₁) and the angle θ are values set at random by thefiber data forming unit 31.

The fiber data is obtained by transforming (x, y) of the equation (3-1)in accordance with the equations (3-2) and (3-3):

    x=x+x.sub.1                                                (3-2)

    y=y+y.sub.1                                                (3-3)

using the coordinate value (x₁, y₁) which is the fiber positionrepresenting data as shown for example in FIG. 17, and also by rotating(x, y) the equation (3-1) n accordance with the equations (3-4) and(3-5):

    x=x×cos (θ)+y×cos (θ)              (3-4)

    y=-x×sin (θ)+y×cos (θ)             (3-5)

using the angle θ which is the data representing the fiber direction, asshown for example in FIG. 18.

These plural fiber data, formed by the fiber data forming unit 31, arearranged in an area for forming the paper fiber structure data by thefiber distribution data forming unit 32 for forming fiber distributiondata.

For taking into account both the uniform distribution and partialdistribution of the paper fibers, the fiber distribution data formingunit 32 includes a dot arraying unit 321 for arraying plural points atrandom in an area made up of plural pixels encompassed by the paperfiber structure data and a uniforming unit 322 for uniforming the pluralpoints arranged by the dot arraying unit 321 by relaxation processing,as shown in FIG. 19. The fiber distribution data forming unit 32 alsoincludes a sub-area forming unit 323 for forming plural sub-areascentered about each dot uniformed by the uniforming unit 322 and arandom arraying unit 324 for random arraying the same number of fiberdata in each of the sub-areas formed by the sub-area forming unit 323.

For producing the fiber distribution data in the fiber distribution dataforming unit 32, plural points are arranged at random in an area made upof plural pixels encompassed by the paper fiber structure data by thedot arraying unit 321. The plural points arranged at the dot arrayingunit 321 are uniformed by relaxation processing by the uniforming unit322. Then, a plurality of sub-areas, each centered around each pointuniformed by the uniforming unit 322, are formed by the sub-area formingunit 323. The same number of fiber data are arranged at random in eachsub-area formed by the sub-area forming unit 323 for forming fiberdistribution data.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 20, an illustrative operation of thefiber distribution data forming unit 32 is explained.

At step ST3-1, the dot arraying unit 321 arrays at random n dots TN inan area RI made up of plural pixels encompassed by the paper fiberstructure data, as shown for example in FIG. 21. The value of n, whichis an integer not less than 2, may be pre-set or entered at a desiredvalue by the user via the input unit 1.

Then, at step ST3-2, the dot arraying unit 321 calculates the radius R₀of the sub-area formed within the area RI made up of plural pixelsencompassed by the paper fiber structure data. The value of the radiumR₀ may be pre-set, entered at a desired value by the user via the inputunit 1, or calculated based upon the value of the number n of the dotsarrayed at step ST3-1. If the value of the radius R₀ is to be calculatedbased upon the number n of the dots arrayed at step ST3-1, it iscalculated in accordance with the equation (3-6):

    R20=2.0×(X×Y/n).sup.1/2                        (3-6)

where X and R denote the transverse length and the vertical length ofthe area RI made up of plural pixels encompassed by the paper fiberstructure data. Then, at step ST3-3, the uniforming unit 322 carries outrelaxation processing for moving the respective dots for uniforming thepositions of the n dots arranged at the step ST3-1.

As an example of the relaxation processing, the relaxation processing ona point TN_(a) having the current position (X, Y) is explained.

At step ST3-3-1, the uniforming unit 322 detects m dots TN_(j) (j=1, 2,3, . . . m), included within a circle having a radius R₀ centered about(X, Y), from among the dots TN placed at random at step ST3-1. Theradius R₀ is the value found at step ST3-2. It is noted that m<n andpoint TN_(a) is not included among the dots TN_(j).

At step ST3-3-2, the uniforming unit 322 finds i vectors (X_(j) -X,Y_(j) -Y) proceeding from a point TN_(a) to a point TN_(j).

At step ST3-3-3, the uniforming unit 322 finds the sum (X_(f), Y_(f)) ofi vectors (X_(j) -X, Y_(j) -Y) proceeding from the point TN_(a) to thepoint TN_(j), where (X_(f), Y_(f)) is represented by the followingequation (3-7):

    (X.sub.f,Y.sub.f)=(X.sub.1 -X,Y.sub.1 -Y)+(X.sub.2 -X, Y.sub.2 -Y)+. . . (X.sub.m -X,Y.sub.m -Y)                                   (3-7)

Then, at step ST3-3-4, the uniforming unit 322 transforms the positionof the point TN_(a) (X, Y) into (X', Y') as shown by the equation (3-8)and (3-9):

    X'=X+d×X.sub.f                                       (3-8)

    Y'=Y+d×Y.sub.f                                       (3-9)

where d is a pre-set proportionality constant.

The relaxation processing on the dot TN_(a) is performed by the abovestep ST3-3-1 to ST3-3-4. Thus, by sequentially performing the stepsST3-3-1 to ST3-3-4 for n dots TN, the n points TN is relaxed, so thatthe n points TN placed in the area RI made up of plural pixelsencompassed by the paper fiber structure data are uniformed, as shownfor example in FIG. 22.

The relaxation processing is not limited to the above-given processingprovided the positions of plural points may be uniformed. Thus, any ofknown relaxation processing operations may be employed.

If the step ST3-3 comes to a close, the uniforming unit 322 judges, atstep ST3-4, whether or not the relaxation processing is to be iterated.The number of the relaxation processing operations needs only to bechanged depending upon the state of distribution of the fibersconstituting the desired paper. If the distribution of the fibers makingup the paper exhibits partiality over the entire area, the number ofiteration of the relaxation processing is diminished, whereas, if thepaper exhibits partiality to a lesser extent over the entire area, thenumber of iteration is increased. The number of times of iteration ofthe relaxation processing may be pre-set or entered via the input device1 so that the number of times of the iteration may be freely set by theuser. If the relaxation processing is to be repeated (YES), theprocessing reverts to step ST3-3, whereas, if the relaxation processingcomes to a close (NO), the processing returns to step ST3-5.

At step ST3-5, the sub-area forming unit 323 forms n circular sub-areasMR, each centered about one of n uniformed dots TN, as shown for examplein FIG. 23. The value of the radius R₀ of the sub-area MR is one foundat step ST3-2.

Then, at step ST3-6, the random arraying unit 324 places at random fiberdata in the respective sub-areas MR so that the same number of fibers FIas that of the small sub-areas MR will be arranged in the smallsub-areas MR as shown for example in FIG. 24.

By the above steps ST3-1 to ST3-6, the fiber data formed by the fiberdata forming unit 31 are placed with uniform distribution and partialdistribution in the area for forming paper fiber structure data.

If the fiber data are formed in this manner, it becomes possible torealize the fiber distribution data having both the uniform fiber datadistribution over the entire area and the partial fiber datadistribution over a small-sized area. That is, the fiber data may bedistributed so as to have partial distribution in a small-sized area byuniforming the positions of the dots by the uniforming unit 322 so thatpartial dot positions are left to a small extent. On the other hand, thefiber data may be distributed so as to be uniform over the entire areaby setting the same number of fibers as the respective sub-areas formedby the small area forming unit 323 in these sub-areas.

Based upon the thus formed fiber distribution data, the fiber numbercalculating unit 33 finds the number of fibers associated with the pixelP. That is, the fiber number calculating unit 33 finds the number offibers M passing through the pixel P based upon the fiber distributiondata formed by the fiber distribution data forming unit 32. This numberof the fibers M is found for each pixel so as to be the paper fiberstructure data. Specifically, if fibers FI₁, FI₂, FI₃ and FI₄ arearranged for the pixel P, as shown in FIG. 25, the number of fibers M ofthe pixel P is equal to 4. On the other hand, the neighboring fibernumber calculating unit 34 finds the number of the fibers for the pixelP according to the fiber directions. Thus the unit 34 finds the numbersof fibers M_(i) passing through the pixel P and through the eight pixelsP_(i) neighboring to the pixel P based upon the fiber distribution dataformed by the fiber distribution data forming unit 32.

If the fiber passes through the pixel P and through two or more pixelsof the eight neighboring pixels P_(i) neighboring to the pixel P, it isthen assumed that the fiber is arrayed in the direction of the fiberP_(i) which the fiber emanating from the pixel P first traverses andthus the number M_(i) of the fibers for the pixel P_(i) traversed firstby the fiber emanating from the pixel P is incremented by one.Specifically, if the fiber traverses the pixels P₆, P₅, P, P₁, P₂ inthis order, the numbers of fibers M₅ and M₁ are incremented by one,while the numbers of fibers M₆ and M₂ are not incremented by one.

The numbers of fibers M_(i) are found from pixel to pixel to pixel inorder to provide the paper fiber structure data. Specifically, if thefive fibers FI₁, FI₂, FI₃, FI₄ and FI₅ are arrayed for the pixels P andP_(i), as shown in FIG. 14, the number M of fibers of the pixel P is 5,while the numbers of the fibers M₁, M₂, M₃, M₄, M₅, M₆, M₇ and M₈ becomeequal to 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 0, 3, 0, respectively.

The capillary tube number setting unit 35 finds the numbers of thecapillary tubes for the pixel P according to directions. That is, thecalculating unit 35 finds the numbers of capillary tubes S_(i) formed inthe respective directions of the eight pixels neighboring to the pixel Pbased upon the numbers M_(i) of fibers as calculated by the neighboringfiber number calculating unit 34. The numbers S_(i) of the capillarytubes are found on the pixel basis to provide the paper fiber structuredata.

Since the ink duct formed in the fiber gap is the capillary tube, thenumber of the capillary tubes S_(i) is dependent upon the number offibers M_(i). However, if the number of capillary tubes is large, thecapillary tube is reduced in width, whereas, if there is only a smallnumber of the capillary tubes, the capillary tube is increased in width.Thus it may be presumed that the sum total of the ink quantity flowingthrough he capillary tubes remains substantially constant even if thenumber of the capillary tubes is changed. Thus the number of capillarytubes S_(i) may be reduced to data specifying only the presence orabsence of the capillary tubes for data simplification. Specifically,the number of the capillary tubes S_(i) may be set to 1 or 0 accordingas the capillary tubes are or are not constituted by M_(i) fibers,respectively.

In deciding whether or not the capillary tubes are constituted by M_(i)fibers, it is assumed that the capillary tubes are formed for the numberof fibers M_(i) equal to 2 or more while the capillary tubes are notformed if the number of fibers M_(i) is less than 2. That is, the numberof capillary tubes S_(i) is set to 1 or 0 for the number of fibers M_(i)equal to not less than 2 or less than 2, respectively. Specifically, ifthe fiber fibers FI₁, FI₂, FI₃, FI₄ and FI₅ are arrayed for the pixel Pand the pixel P_(i) as shown in FIG. 14, the numbers of the capillarytubes S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆, S₇, S₈ are 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0,respectively.

For more accurate simulation of the paper structure, the angles ofintersection of the M_(i) fibers may be taken into account in settingthe numbers S_(i) of the capillary tubes. The reason is that, if theangle of intersection of the neighboring fibers is large, the fiber gapis increased so that the fiber gap ceases to function as the capillarytube and hence the ink cannot flow through the fiber gap.

If the number of the capillary tubes S_(i) is to be set in considerationof the angles of intersection of the M_(i) fibers, the capillary tubecalculating unit 35 is made up of an intersection angle setting unit 351for setting the angles of intersection between neighboring fibers atrandom, and a capillary tube number setting unit 352 for setting thenumbers of capillary tubes S_(i), as shown for example in FIG. 26. Aftersetting the angles of intersection between neighboring fibers of M_(i)fibers in the direction of the pixels P_(i) neighboring to the pixel Pat random by the intersection angle setting unit 351, the capillary tubenumber setting unit 352 sets the number of the capillary tubes S_(i) to1 or 0 if at least one of the intersection angles as set by theintersection angle setting nit 351 is within a preset angle or if thetotality of the intersection angles as set by the intersection anglesetting unit 351 is not within the pre-set angle, respectively.Specifically, if the number M1 of fibers of the pixel P is 5, theintersection angle setting unit 351 sets the intersection angles Δθ₁,Δθ₂, Δθ₃ and Δθ₄ between neighboring one of the five fibers FI₁, FI₂,FI₃, FI₄ and FI₅ at random at the intersection angle setting unit 351,as shown in FIG. 27. The capillary tube number setting unit 352 sets thenumber of the capillary tubes S_(i) to 1 or 0 if at least one of theintersection angles Δθ₁, Δθ₂, Δθ₃ and Δθ₄ as set by the intersectionangle setting unit 351 is within a preset angle or if the totality ofthe intersection angles as set by the intersection angle setting unit351 is not within the pre-set angle, respectively.

If light transmittance I is also set as the paper fiber structure data,the paper fiber structure data forming processor 30 includes a lighttransmittance calculating unit 36 for finding the pixel-based lighttransmittance I indicating the light transmittance in the pixel in whichthe fiber is placed based upon the number of fibers M as calculated bythe fiber number calculating unit 33.

The light transmittance calculating unit 36 calculates the pixel-basedlight transmittance I based upon the number of fibers M and uses thecalculated light transmittance I as the paper fiber structure data. Thelight transmittance I is calculated based upon the number of fibers M ofeach pixel so that the more the number of the fibers M, the less becomesthe light transmittance through the pixel and the lesser the number ofthe fibers M, the larger becomes the light transmittance through thepixel.

The illustrative operation of the light transmittance calculating unit36 will be explained by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 28. In thefollowing explanation, it is assumed that the larger the value of thelight transmittance I, the lesser becomes the light transmittance andthe smaller the value of the light transmittance I, the higher becomesthe light transmittance.

At step ST3-11, the light transmittance calculating unit 36 sets thevalue of light transmittance I to (d×e) as an initial value, where d andq are pre-set constants, with 0<d<1 . . . .

At step ST3-12, the light transmittance calculating unit 36 sets thevalue of the flag for the number of times of processing operations f to0.

At step ST3-13, the light transmittance calculating unit 36 incrementsthe value of the flag specifying the number of times of processingoperations to 1 for setting the number of times of the processingoperations.

At step ST3-14, the light transmittance calculating unit 36 compares thevalues of f and M to each other for repeating the processing a number oftimes equal to the number M of the fibers for the pixel P. The lighttransmittance calculating unit 36 transfers to step ST3-15 or terminatesthe processing if f≦M or otherwise, respectively.

At step ST3-15, the light transmittance calculating unit 36 sets thevalue of the light transmittance I to (d×e+(1-d)×I) as a change in thelight transmittance caused by a sole fiber. The light transmittancecalculating unit 36 then reverts to step ST3-13 for iterating theprocessing a number of times equal to the number of fibers M for thepixel P.

By setting the luminance of the respective pixels based upon the thusset light transmittance I and displaying the luminance in the displayunit 5, the picture of the paper simulated by the paper fiber structuredata may be displayed such that the state of the simulated paper fiberstructure data may be checked by visual inspection by the user.

(4) Blurring Processor

Referring to FIGS. 29 to 87, an illustrative embodiment of the blurringprocessor 40 is explained n detail.

If, while the writing brush is moved from a starting point towards anend point for drawing a picture, the amount of ink contained in thebrush is small, the brush carrying speed is high or the brush pressureis low, a region depleted of ink, referred to hereinafter as a blurredarea KS, is produced as a result of blurring. The blurring processor 40mainly forms picture data for displaying a blurred figure. Such picturedata is supplied to the display unit 5 for drawing a blurred figure onthe display surface of the display unit 5.

The figure processed by the blurring processor 40 is a figure ZKsurrounded by a first contour rn1 interconnecting plural points painclusive of a starting point ps and an end point pe and a secondcontour rn2 interconnecting plural points pb inclusive of the startingpoint ps and the end point pe, as shown for example in FIG. 30.Specifically, the figure processed by the blurring processor 40 is afigure represented by stroke data of a font formed by theabove-mentioned font forming processor 20.

The basic processing performed by the blurring processor 40 is to setink present data specifying the ink present state as picture data forpixels of the figure within a non-blurred region, referred tohereinafter as a drawing region, and to set ink absent data specifyingthe ink absent state as picture data for pixels within the blurred areaKS for forming picture data for representing a blurred figure ZK.

(4-1) Data Employed in Blurring Processing

First, full-contour data, blurred region data, blurring parameters,shape data, picture data and writing brush data, which are main dataemployed in the blurring processing by the blurring processor 40, areexplained.

(4-1-1) Full Contour Data

The full-contour data is the data specifying the contour of a figure andthe drawing direction. For example, the full-contour data is comprisedof first contour data including a contour interconnecting a start pointand an end point of a figure and the drawing direction, and secondcontour data including another contour interconnecting the start pointand the end point of the figure and the drawing direction, as shown inFIG. 31.

The first contour data is an array of m coordinate points A_(i) (i=1, 2,3, . . . , m), m being an integer not less than 1, on the first contourof the figure, arrayed in the figure drawing direction, as shown in FIG.31. The first coordinate point A₁ and the last coordinate point A_(m)represent the starting point and the end point of the figure,respectively. Similarly, the second contour data is an array of ncoordinate points B_(j) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n), n being an integer notless than 1, on the second contour of the figure, arrayed in the figuredrawing direction, as shown in FIG. 38. The first coordinate point B₁and the last coordinate point B_(n) represent the starting point and theend point of the figure, respectively. Thus the coordinate points A₁ andB₁ represent the same point, while the coordinate points A_(m) and B_(n)represent the same point.

The above-described full-contour data is complemented as explainedsubsequently so that coordinate points are added to the first contourdata and the second contour data for further smoothing the contour ofthe figure. Thus it suffices to set the initially set first and secondcontour data so as to permit the approximate contour of the figure to becomprehended. The coordinate points are added to the first and secondcontour data so that the numbers of the coordinate points of the firstcontour data m and the numbers of the coordinate points of the secondcontour data n will be equal to each other by way of complementation, aswill be explained subsequently. Thus it is unnecessary for the initiallyset first and second contour data to be equal to each other.

Specifically, these full-contour data are stroke data of the font formedby the font forming processor 20. Thus the blurring processor 40performs blurring processing on the stroke data of the font formed bythe font forming processor 20.

If there exist plural figures to be drawn, for example, if a characteror a symbol is comprised of plural strokes each of which is a figure tobe drawn, plural sets of full-contour data are provided for coping withthe respective strokes. The respective sets of the full-contour data areset so that the full-contour data will be arrayed in the drawingsequence of the respective figures to permit the drawing sequence of therespective figures to be understood. Specifically, the plural sets ofthe full-contour data is a font comprised of data of plural strokesformed by the font forming processor 20. That is, in the case of thefont comprised of data of plural strokes formed by the font formingprocessor 20, the data of the respective strokes each corresponding tothe full-contour data are arrayed in the writing sequence for settingthe data sequence of the respective strokes. The blurring processor 40performs blurring processing on the font formed by the font formingprocessor 20.

(4-1-2) Blurred Region Data

The blurred region data is the data representing the position of theblurred region and is comprised of data representing the length of mtrajectories along the first or second contours extending within thefigure from the starting point to the end point. These trajectories arehereinafter referred to as drawing trajectories. The position within thefigure of the blurred area is represented by the lengths of these mtrajectories.

The drawing trajectories BK are m lines extending from the start pointps as far as the end point pe and spaced apart with an equal spacingfrom each other along the width of the figure ZK as shown for example inFIG. 32. Both end drawing trajectories are equivalent to the firstcontour line rn1 and the second contour line rn2 of the figure ZK.Although the number m of the drawing trajectories is small in FIG. 32for ease in understanding, the number m of the drawing trajectories BKis actually much larger for representing the blurring more precisely.

The blurred area data is comprised of m blurring start length data onthe m drawing trajectories BK beginning from the start point ps andterminating at blurring start points KPS and m blurring end length dataon the m drawing trajectories BK beginning from the start point ps andterminating at blurring end points KPE, thereby specifying the positionin the drawing ZK of the blurred region KS.

If there exists no blurred area KS on a given drawing trajectory BK, theblurring start length data and the blurring end length data on thedrawing trajectory are set to an equal value. Specifically, the blurringstart length data and the blurring end length data on the drawingtrajectory are both set to 0 or 1.

The blurring start length data is a value comprised within a range of 0and 1, obtained on normalizing the length from the start point ps as faras the blurring start point KPS, with the length of the figure ZKbeginning at the start point ps and ending at the end point pe, forexample, a mean value of the length of the first contour and the lengthof the second contour, being set to 1. Similarly, the blurring endlength data is a value comprised within a range of from 0 to 1 obtainedon normalizing the length from the starting point ps as far as theblurring end point KPE, with the length of the figure being set to 1.This simplifies the blurring start length data and the blurring endlength data. Of course, the blurring start length data and the blurringend length data may be set so as to be equal to the actual length fromthe start point ps as far as the blurring start point KP and the actuallength from the start point ps as far as the blurring end point KPE.

With the blurred region data, the position within the figure of theblurred area may be represented solely by the blurring start length dataand the blurring end data, that is two one-dimensionally arrayed data.In other words, with such blurred area data, the blurred area positionmay be specified by simplified data. In addition, if the blurring startdata and the blurring end data are normalized based upon the figurelength, data specifying the position of the blurred area may besimplified further.

The blurred area data is the data set for corresponding to a soleblurred area, so that, if there exist plural blurred areas in a figure,plural blurred areas may be set in each blurred area.

FIG. 33 shows an illustrative example of the above-described blurredarea data. The blurred area data shown in FIG. 33 is such data in which,for a figure having two blurred areas KS, eight blurring trajectoriesBK1, BK2, BK3, BK4, BK5, BK6, BK7 and BK8 are provided, with the blurredarea data being normalized with the figure length set to 1. It is notedthat the blurred area data shown in FIG. 33 are simplified forexplanation and that, for defining the blurred area KS more precisely,the number of the drawing trajectories, that is the numbers of theblurring start length data and the blurring end length data, are set tolarger values, while the numbers of the effective digits of the blurringstart length data and the blurring end length data are also set tolarger values.

Referring to FIG. 34, the blurred area KS represented by the blurredarea data shown in FIG. 33 is comprised of a first blurred area KS1surrounded by a blurring start point KP1 and a blurring end point KP2 onthe drawing trajectory BK2, a blurring start point KP3 and a blurringend point KP4 on the drawing trajectory BK3, a blurring start point KP5and a blurring end point KP6 on the drawing trajectory BK4, a blurringstart point KP7 and a blurring end point KP8 on the drawing trajectoryBK5 and a blurring start point KP9 and a blurring end point KP10 on thedrawing trajectory BK6, and a second blurred area KS2 surrounded by ablurring start point KP11 and a blurring end point KP12 on the drawingtrajectory BK4, a blurring start point KP13 and a blurring end pointKP14 on the drawing trajectory BK5, a blurring start point KP15 and ablurring end point KP16 on the drawing trajectory BK6, a blurring startpoint KP17 and a blurring end point KP18 on the drawing trajectory BK7and a blurring start point KP19 and a blurring end point KP20 on thedrawing trajectory BK8.

If the figure length is set to 1, the lengths on the drawingtrajectories BK2, BK3, BK4, BK5 and BK6 from the start point as far asthe blurring start points KP1, KP3, KP5, KP7 and KP9 are 0.12, 0.31,0.25, 0.14 and 0.20, respectively, while the lengths from the startingpoint as far as the blurring end points KP1, KP3, KP5, KP7 and KP9 are0.51, 0.60, 0.69, 0.42 and 0.55, respectively. On the other hand, thelengths on the drawing trajectories BK4, BK5, BK6, BK7 and BK8 from thestart point as far as the blurring start points KP11, KP13, KP15, KP17and KP19 are 0.71, 0.84, 0.82, 0.78 and 0.73, respectively, while thelengths from the starting point as far as the blurring end points KP12,KP14, KP16, KP18 and KP20 are 0.92 0.93, 0.91, 0.95 and 0.94,respectively.

(4-1-3) Blurring Parameters

The blurring parameters are parameters for forming blurred area data,and are comprised of a parameter c₁ employed for setting the blurringstarting length data for the blurred area data for specifying theblurring start position along the length of the figure, a parameter c₂employed for setting the blurring end length data for the blurred areadata for specifying the blurring end position along the length of thefigure, a parameter c₃ specifying the upper end of the blurring alongthe width of the figure, a parameter c₄ specifying the lower end of theblurring along the width of the figure, a parameter c₅ specifying theextent of variations in the blurring start position along the length ofthe figure, a parameter c₆ specifying the extent of variations in theblurring end position along the length of the figure, and a parameter c₇specifying the density of the blurring along the width of the figure.These parameters c₁ to c₇ specify the positions in the figure of theblurred area KS, as will be explained subsequently,

For these parameters c₁ to c₃, specified values are set for specifyingthe positions of the blurred area KS in the figure ZK, as shown forexample in FIG. 36.

That is, values of from 0 to 1, obtained on normalization with thefigure length of 1 for representing the length from the start point psas far as the blurring start position, are set for the parameter c₁,while values of from 0 to 1, obtained on normalization with the figurelength of 1 for representing the length from the start point ps as faras the burring end point, are set for the parameter c₂. The relation ofthe parameters c₁ and c₂ is naturally c₁ ≦c₂.

The parameters c₁, c₂ may be set in a different manner provided theblurring start position or the blurring end position may thereby beknown. For example, the parameter c₁ may be set for representing themean position of the blurring start positions KPS on the drawingtrajectories BK while the parameter c₂ may be set for representing themean position of the blurring end positions KPE on the drawingtrajectories BK. The parameters c₁, c₂ may be of actual lengths insteadof being normalized with the drawing length set to 1.

The parameters c₃, c₄ are set to values of from 0 to 1 corresponding tothe numbers of the drawing trajectories BK delimiting the upper andlower ends of the blurring normalized by the number m of the drawingtrajectories BK. That is, of the m drawing trajectories BK, the (C₃×m)'th drawing trajectory represents the upper end of the blurring areaKS, while the (C₄ ×m)'th drawing trajectory BK represents the lower endof the blurring area KS. These parameters c₃, c₄ delimit the blurringrange along the width of the figure ZK.

The values of these parameters c₃, c₄ are set so that |c₃ -c₄ | will belarger and smaller for broader and narrower widths of the blurred areaKS, respectively. If the blurred area KS is offset along the width ofthe figure ZK in one or the other direction, the values of theparameters c₃, c₄ are both set to values closer to 0 or 1.

The parameters c₃, c₄ may be set in a different manner provided theupper and lower positions along the width of the figure may thereby beknown. For example, the parameters c₃ and c₄ may be set so as to beequal to the length from one contour of the figure ZK to the upper endof the blurred area and to the length from the other contour of thefigure ZK to the lower end of the blurred area, respectively. Althoughthe parameters c₃, c₄ are normalized with the number m of the drawingtrajectories BK, the actual number of the drawing trajectories BK mynaturally be employed without normalization.

The parameter c₅ is set to a value within a range of from 0 to 0.5×(c₂-c₁) for specifying the extent of variations of the blurring startposition, normalized with the figure length being set to 1. Similarly,the parameter c₆ is set to a value within a range of from 0 to 0.5×(c₂-c₁) for specifying the extent of variations of the blurring endposition, normalized with the figure length being set to 1.

The parameters c₅, c₆ may be set in a different manner providedvariations in the blurring start position or the blurring end positionmay thereby be known. Although the parameters c₅, c₆ are normalized withthe figure length being set to 1, the actual length may naturally beemployed without normalization.

The parameter c₇ is set to a value within the range of from 0 to 1representing the blurring density normalized so that the absence of theblurring in the range defined by the parameters c₃ and c₄ and thepresence of the blurring in the entire range denote 0 and 1,respectively. If, for example, the parameter c₇ is 0.4 and the number ofthe drawing trajectories BK traversing the area defined by theparameters c₃, c₄ is k, the (0.4×k) drawing trajectories and the((1-0.4)×k) drawing trajectories among the drawing trajectoriesrepresent the blurred portion, that is the portion where there is noink, and the non-blurred portion, that is portion where there is ink,respectively.

The parameter c₇ may be set in any different manner provided theblurring density along the figure width may thereby be known. Forexample, the parameter c₇ may be set to an actual number of the drawingtrajectories BK present in the blurred portion.

It is noted that, when a figure is actually drawn with a writing brushon the paper, such blurring may be produced in which the extent ofblurring is large, such that the amount of the ink present in theblurred portion is small. This sort of blurring is hereinafter referredto as intense blurring. In the case of the intense blurring, variationsin the blurring start position and in the blurring end position tends tobe diminished. Conversely, in the case of the blurring shown in FIG. 38,the extent of blurring is small, such that the amount of the ink presentin the blurred portion is large. This sort of blurring is referred tohereinafter as linear blurring. In the case of the linear blurring,variations in the blurring start position and in the blurring endposition tends to be increased.

Thus, for representing the intense blurring, a larger value on the orderof 0.8 to 1.0 is set for the parameter c₇, while a smaller value on theorder of 1/10 to 1/12 is set for the parameters c₅ and c₆. On the otherhand, for representing the linear blurring, a smaller value on the orderof 0.4 to 0.7 is set for the parameter c₇, while a larger value on theorder of 1/6 to 1/8 is set for the parameters c₅ and c₆.

These blurring parameters are set from one blurred area to another, suchthat, if there are plural blurred areas, plural blurring parameters areset for coping with the respective blurred areas. Blurred area data areproduced for coping with the respective blurred areas based upon theblurring parameters set from one blurred area to another.

(4-1-4) Shape Data

The shape data is data specifying the figure shape and is comprised oflength data, width data, curvature data and curved point data, as shownfor example in FIG. 39. The values of these data are calculated basedupon the full contour data complemented so that the number of thecoordinate points of the first contour data and the number of thecoordinate points of the second contour data will be equal to eachother.

The length data is the data specifying the length from the start pointup to the end point of a figure and is comprised of a length L, as shownin FIG. 39. This length L is equivalent to the above-mentioned figurelength. For this length L, a mean value of the length of the firstcontour found from the first contour data and the length of the secondcontour found from the second contour data is set. Specifically, thelength of the first contour is a sum of the sequentially calculatedvalues of the distances between neighboring coordinate points A_(j) andA_(j+1) of the first contour data, while the length of the secondcontour is a sum of the sequentially calculated values of the distancesbetween neighboring coordinate points B_(j) and B_(j+1) of the secondcontour data. That is, if the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of acoordinate point A_(i) are X_(Ai) and Y_(Ai), respectively, theX-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of a coordinate point A_(i+1) areX_(Ai+1) and Y_(Ai+1), respectively, the X-coordinate and theY-coordinate of a coordinate point B_(i) are X_(Bi) and Y_(Bi), theX-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of a coordinate point B_(i+1) areX_(Bi+1) and Y_(Bi+1), respectively, the length L is found from theequation (4-1): ##EQU1##

The width data is data specifying the figure width and is comprised of wwidths W_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , w) between the coordinate points A_(i)and the coordinate points B_(i), as set for each of the coordinatepoints of the first or second contour data, where w is the number of thefirst or second coordinate points, as shown in FIG. 39.

The curvature data is data specifying the bend of a figure and iscomprised of w curvatures r_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , w), as set for eachcoordinate point of the first or second contour data. Specifically, forfinding the curvature r_(i), a coordinate point C_(i-1) of a mid pointbetween the coordinate point A_(i-1) and the coordinate point B₁₋₁, acoordinate point C_(i) of a mid point between the coordinate point A_(i)and the coordinate point B_(i) and a coordinate point C_(i+1) of a midpoint between the coordinate point A_(i+1) and the coordinate pointB_(i+1) are found, and an angle θ_(i) between a line interconnecting thecoordinate point C_(i-1) and the coordinate point C_(i) and a lineinterconnecting the coordinate point C_(i) and the coordinate pointC_(i+1) is calculated, this angle θ_(i) being a curvature r_(i) for thecoordinate point A_(i) or the coordinate point B_(i). The angular rangepossible for the curvature r_(i) is from 0° to 180° and the smaller orthe larger the angle, the larger and the smaller is the bend of thefigure, respectively. It is noted that the curvature r_(i) for thestarting point A₁ or B₁ and the curvature r_(W) for the end Point A_(W)or B_(W) is pre-set to 180° for specifying the bend-free state.

The curved or bend point data is the data for bend points where thecurvature r_(i) indicates a bend exceeding a pre-set angle. The curvedpoint data is made up of the bend point position r₋₋ p and the number ofbend points r₋₋ n. The bend point position r₋₋ p specifies the number if the curvature r_(i) exceeding a pe-set value, such as 115°, while thenumber of bend points r n is the number of such curvatures r_(i). It isalso possible to set only the curved point position r₋₋ p as thecurvature data and to find the number of curved points r₋₋ n from thenumber of set bend point positions r₋₋ p.

(4-1-5) Picture Data

The picture data is data set f rom pixel to pixel for displaying apicture on the display device 5, as explained previously. The picturedata for a given pixel is comprised of ink data specifying the state ofthe ink in the pixel and luminance data specifying the luminance of thepixel, as shown in FIG. 41. The ink data is comprised of ink/no inkdata, specifying the presence or absence of the ink in the pixel, inkdensity data specifying the ink density in the pixel and the inkquantity data specifying the ink quantity in the pixel.

(4-1-6) Writing Brush Data

The writing brush data is data simulating a writing brush and iscomprised of the ink quantity IQ_(k) (k=1, 2, 3, . . . , m) and the inkdensity ID_(k) (k=1, 2, 3, . . . , m), with the ink quantity and inkdensity being set in association with m drawing trajectories, as shownin FIG. 42. Based upon the ink quantity IQ_(k) and the ink densityID_(k), the above-mentioned ink quantity data and the ink density datafor the picture data are set, as will be explained subsequently.

(4-2) Construction of the Blurring Processor

An illustrative construction of the blurring processor 40 is explained.

Referring to FIG. 43, the blurring processor 40 includes a writing brushdata setting unit 41 for setting writing brush data, and a data readoutunit 42 for reading full-contour data, such as fonts, formed by the fontforming processor 20, from the external storage device 4 or the memory3. The blurring processor also includes a blurring parameter settingunit 43 for setting blurring parameters based upon the full contour datasupplied from the data readout unit 42 and a blurred area data formingunit 44 for forming blurred area data based upon the blurring parametersset by the blurring parameter setting unit 43. The blurring processorsimilarly includes an ink data setting unit 45 for setting ink data inthe pixels in a figure based upon the full contour data supplied fromthe data readout unit 42, writing brush data set in the writing brushdata setting unit 41 and blurred area data formed by the blurred areadata forming unit 44, and a luminance data setting unit 46 for settingluminance data in the pixel for which ink data has been set in the inkdata setting unit 45.

The luminance data as set by the luminance data setting unit 46 issupplied to the display device 5 and the picture corresponding to theluminance data is displayed on the display device 5 for displaying ablurred figure on the display device 5.

(4-2-1) Writing Brush Data Setting Unit

The writing brush data setting unit 41 includes a writing brushselecting unit 411 for selecting writing brush data from pluralpre-formed writing brush data, and a writing brush data forming unit 412for forming writing brush data based upon input data from the inputdevice 1, as shown for example in FIG. 44. The writing brush dataselected by the writing brush data selecting unit 411 or the writingbrush data formed by the writing brush data forming unit 412 is suppliedto the ink data setting unit 45.

The writing brush selecting unit 411 reads out plural writing brush datafrom the memory 3 or the external storage device 4 and selects one ofplural writing brush data responsive to a signal entered by the userresponsive to the user actuation. Specifically, if illustrative figuresto be drawn with the respective writing brushes are displayed on thedisplay device 5, and the user selects writing brush data by selectingthe desired illustrative figures, from among the plural illustrativefigures displayed on the display device 5, with the aid of the inputdevice, such as a mouse, the writing brush selecting unit 411 selectswriting brush data based upon a signal from the input device 1corresponding to the user actuation. The writing brush data selectingunit 411 transmits the selected writing brush data to the ink datasetting unit 45. The result is that the writing brush data required forthe desired figure drawing may be easily selected by the user.

The writing brush forming unit 412 forms writing brush data based uponinput data from the input device 1. Specifically, the writing brushforming unit 412 calculates the ink quantity at each point on thewriting brush based upon the ink quantity values for the respectivepoints on the writing brush, as entered by the input device 1, as shownfor example in FIG. 45. The writing brush forming unit 412 calculatesthe ink density at each point on the writing brush based upon the inkdensity values for the respective points on the writing brush, as shownfor example in FIG. 46. Data entry by the input device 1 may besimplified in this manner by entering only the approximate distributionof the ink density or quantity contained in the writing brush and byforming new writing brush data at the writing brush input device.

For further simplification, it is . also possible for the writing brushforming unit 412 to calculate the ink quantity at each point n thewriting brush based upon the entire ink quantity in the writing brush asentered by the input device 1, as shown for example in FIG. 47. It issimilarly possible for the writing brush forming unit 412 to calculatethe ink density at each point on the writing brush based upon the entireink density in the writing brush as entered by the input device 1, asshown for example in FIG. 48.

(4-2-2) Data readout Unit

The data readout unit 42 includes a plural contour data reading unit 421for reading one or more full-contour data from the input device 1,memory 3 or the external storage device 4, a contour data selecting unit422 for selecting the full-contour data corresponding to the blurredpicture from the full-contour data from the plural contour data readingunit 421 in accordance with a pre-set rule, and a contour datacomplementing unit 423 for selecting one or more full-contour datasupplied from the plural contour data reading unit 421, as shown forexample in FIG. 49.

The plural contour data reading unit 421 reads one or more full-contourdata from the input device 1, memory 3 or the external storage device 4.Specifically, one or more full-contour data representing a blurredcharacter or symbol having at least one stroke, that is the fontprepared by the above-mentioned font forming unit 20.

If one or more full-contour data read by the plural contour data readingunit 421 represents a character or a symbol, that is if the respectivefull-contour data correspond to the strokes constituting the characteror the symbol, the contour data selecting unit 422 selects the fullcontour data corresponding to the blurred picture, from among thefull-contour data, in accordance with the pre-set rule. The figurerepresented by the full contour data selected by the contour dataselecting unit 422 is to be an object of the blurred picture, while thefigure represented by the non-selected full contour data is not to be anobject of the blurred picture. The contour data selecting unit 422 sendsthe information as to which full-contour data is to be an object of theblurred picture to the blurring parameter setting unit 43 and to the inkdata setting unit 45.

The reason is that, if a character is actually written on the paper witha writing brush, blurring is not necessarily produced in all of thestrikes constituting the character such that a blurred stroke and anon-blurred stroke usually co-exist in the character. There exists acertain statistic rule between the burred stroke and the non-blurredstroke, as will be explained subsequently. The contour data selectingunit 422 selects the full-contour data constituting the object of theblurred picture in accordance with the pre-set rule.

Specifically, this pre-set rule states that the ratio of the number ofthe selected full contour data to the number of the entire full-contourdata be not more than a pre-set value, such as one-third. That is, thecontour data selecting unit 422 first selects, from all of thefull-contour data supplied to the contour data selecting unit 422, thefull contour data having the longest stroke represented by the fullcontour data. The contour data selecting unit 422 also selects, fromamong he full contour data excluding the full contour data directlybefore and after the previously selected longest full-contour data, thefull-concur data having a longer stroke represented by the full-contourdata. The contour data selecting unit 422 iterates he above operationuntil the number of the selected full contour data reaches one-third ofthe entire full-contour data. The pre-set rule may also be such a rulethat full-contour data be selected from one or more full contour datasupplied to the contour data selecting unit 422 so that the ratio of theselected full-contour data to the total number of the full-contour datais not more than the pre-set ratio, such as one-third, and only onefull-contour data be selected at random from the remaining full-contourdata.

By selecting the full-contour data as an object of the blurred picturefrom one or more of the full-contour data in accordance with the pre-setrule and by drawing the character so that blurring is produced in thestroke represented by the selected full-contour data but is not producedin the stroke represented by the non-selected full-contour data, thecharacter may be drawn to a more beautiful appearance.

However, if one or more full-contour data read by the plural fullcontour data reading unit 421 represents a figure other than thecharacter or the symbol, the contour data selecting unit 422 selects allof the full-contour data read by the plural full contour data readingunit 421 as the full contour data which is to be the object of theblurred picture.

On the other hand, the contour data complementing unit 423 includes acontour data supplementation unit 424 for supplementing cordate pointsto the first contour data and the second contour data of the fullcontour data supplied from the plural contour data reading unit 421 anda contour data adjustment unit 425 for coinciding the number of thecoordinate points of the first contour data and that of the coordinatepoints of the second contour data of the full contour data supplied fromthe plural contour data reading unit 421, as shown for example in FIG.49.

The contour data complementing unit 423 supplements the coordinatepoints to the first contour data and the second contour data by thecontour data supplementation unit 424 for producing new coordinate datahaving a smaller number between the coordinate points and furthersupplements coordinate points to the new full coordinate points by thecontour data adjustment unit 425 for forming new full-contour data inwhich the number of the coordinate points of the first contour data isequal to that of the contour points of the second coordinate data.

Specifically, if the distance between the neighboring coordinate pointsA_(i) and A_(i+1) of the first contour data is larger than a pre-setvalue, the contour data supplementation unit 424 supplements coordinatepoints between the neighboring coordinate points A_(i) and A_(i+1) forforming new first contour data so that the distance between theneighboring coordinate points will be smaller than a pre-set value. Onthe other hand, if the distance between the neighboring coordinatepoints B_(i) and B_(i+1) of the second contour data is larger than apre-set value, the contour data supplementation unit 424 supplementscoordinate points between the neighboring coordinate points B_(i) andB_(i+1) for forming new second contour data so that the distance betweenthe neighboring coordinate points will be smaller than a pre-set value.The pre-set value is selected so that the first and second contoursrepresented by the new first and second contour data will appear smooth.

The contour data supplementation unit 424 supplements coordinate pointsso that the first contour produced on sequentially interconnecting thecoordinate points A_(i) and the second contour produced on sequentiallyinterconnecting the coordinate points B_(j) using the spline curve orthe Bezier curve will become smooth. Specifically, the contour datasupplementation unit 424 sets the direction of a tangential line at thecoordinate point A₁ at the starting point as the direction proceedingfrom the coordinate point A₁ towards the coordinate point A₂ for settinga spline curve traversing the coordinate points A₁, and supplements thecoordinate points on the spline curve to the first contour data. Thecontour data supplementation unit 424 also sets the direction of atangential line at the coordinate point B₁ at the starting point as thedirection proceeding from the coordinate point B₁ towards the coordinatepoint B₂ for setting a spline curve traversing the coordinate pointsB_(j), and supplements the coordinate points on the spline curve to thesecond contour data.

By supplementing the coordinate points at the coordinate datasupplementation unit 424, the first and second contours become smooththus enabling a figure to be drawn with more beautiful appearance.

The contour data supplementation unit 424 sends to the contour dataadjustment unit 425 full-contour data in which the distance between thecoordinate points becomes smaller than the pre-set value and the firstand second contours have become smooth.

If, in the full-contour data supplied from the contour datasupplementation unit 424, the number of the coordinate points of thefirst contour data and the number of the coordinate points of the secondcontour data are different from each other, the contour data adjustmentunit 425 supplements the coordinate points to the first contour data orthe second contour data so that the number of the coordinate points ofthe first and second contour data will become equal to each other, inorder to from new first and second contour data.

Specifically, the contour data adjustment unit 425 selects twoneighboring coordinate points having a broader distance between thecoordinate points, beginning from one of the first and second contourdata having the smaller number of the coordinate points. If thedistances between the coordinate points are all the same, the contourdata adjustment unit 425 selects two coordinate points at random. Thecontour data adjustment unit 425 supplements a coordinate point which ison a straight line, Bezier curve or on a spline curve interconnectingthese two coordinate points and which is equally spaced apart from thesecoordinate points. This enables the coordinate point to be supplementedto render the first and second contours smooth and to reduce variationsin the distance between the coordinate points.

Thus the contour data supplementation unit 423 supplements the newcoordinate point to the full contour data supplied from the pluralcontour data reading unit 421 to form new full-contour data. Thefull-contour data supplementation unit 423 supplies the new full contourdata to the blurring parameter setting unit 43 and to the ink datasetting unit 45.

(4-2-3) Blurring parameter Setting Unit

Referring to FIG. 50, the blurring parameter setting unit 43 includes ablurring parameter selecting unit 431 for reading plural pre-formedblurring parameters from the memory 3 or the external storage device 4for selecting blurring parameters from the plural blurring parametersresponsive to the signal from the input device 1 by user actuation, anda first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 for calculating blurringparameters based upon the writing brush carrying speed and writing brushpressure distribution entered from the input device 1 as the writingbrush is carried for figure drawing from the starting point to the endpoint. The blurring parameter setting unit also includes a secondblurring parameter calculating unit 433 for calculating the blurringparameters based upon the shape of the figure represented by the fullcontour data supplied from the data readout unit 42, and a blurringparameter input device 434 for forming the blurring parameters from theparameters c₁ to c₇ entered via the input device 1.

The blurring parameter selection unit 431 sends the selected blurringparameters to the blurred area data forming unit 44, while the firstblurring parameter calculating unit 432 sends the calculated blurringparameters to the blurred area forming unit 44. The second blurringparameter calculating unit 432 sends the calculated blurring parametersto the blurred area forming unit 44. The blurring parameter input device434 sends the formed blurring parameters to the blurred area formingunit 44.

The blurring parameter selecting unit 431 selects blurring parametersfrom the plural pre-formed blurring parameters having differentcombinations of the values of the parameters c₁ to C₇ supplied from thememory 3 or the external storage device 4. Specifically, typicalblurring examples obtained using the blurring parameters are displayedon the display device 5. If the user selects, from the plural blurringexamples displayed on the display device 5, the desired blurring exampleby the input device, such as a mouse, for thereby selecting the blurringparameters, the blurring parameter selection unit 431 selects theblurring parameters based upon the signal from the input device 1responsive to the user actuation. The blurring parameter selection unit431 sends the selected blurring parameters to the blurred area dataforming unit 44. The result is that the user may easily select theblurring parameters required for drawing the desired figure.

The first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 calculates theparameters c₁ to c₇, based upon the speed distribution data and thewriting brush distribution data entered from the input device 1, andsends the blurring parameters comprised of these parameters c₁ to c₇ tothe blurred area data forming unit 44. The speed distribution data isthe data specifying the distribution of the writing brush carrying speedduring figure drawing from the beginning point to the terminal point,and is comprised of g speeds v_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , g) specifying thewriting brush carrying speed at the respective g positions within thefigure, as shown in FIG. 51. The writing brush distribution data is thedata specifying the distribution of the writing brush pressure duringfigure drawing from the beginning point to the terminal point, and iscomprised of g pressures p_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , g) specifying thewriting brush pressure at the respective a positions within the figure,as shown in FIG. 51.

For the input device 1 for entering the speed distribution data and thewriting brush pressure distribution data, a tablet is employed. That is,the user enters the pen movement speed with the tablet as the speeddistribution data, while entering the pen pressure as the writing brushdistribution data. This makes it possible to enter the speeddistribution data and the writing brush distribution data more easily.

The second blurring parameter calculating unit 433 calculates theparameters c₁ to c₇, based upon the shape of the figure represented bythe full-contour data supplied from the data readout unit 42 as laterexplained, and sends blurring parameters comprised of the parameters c₁to c₇ to the blurred area data forming unit 44.

The blurred parameter input unit 434 directly sends the parameters c₁ toc₇ entered from the input device 1 as blurring parameters to the blurredarea data forming unit 44.

The blurring parameter setting unit 43 decides, based upon the signalfrom the input device 1 responsive to the operation by the user, whichof the blurring parameter selecting unit 431, first blurring parametercalculating unit 432, second blurring parameter calculating unit 433 andthe blurring parameter input device 434 is to be used in setting theblurring parameters. If the user desires to set the blurring parameterswhile viewing the blurring manner, he or she selects the blurringparameter selecting unit 431. If the user desires to set the blurringparameters based upon the actual writing brush carrying speed or actualwriting pressure, he or she selects the first blurring parametercalculating unit 432. If the user desires to set the blurring parametersfor generating usual blurring, he or she selects the first blurringparameter calculating unit 432. Finally, if the user desires to set theblurring parameters freely, he or she selects the blurring parameterinput device 434.

(4-2-4) Blurred Area Data Forming Unit

The blurred area data forming unit 44 forms the blurred area data basedupon the blurring parameters supplied from the blurring parametersetting unit 43, as will be explained subsequently. The blurred areadata forming unit 44 sends the formed blurred area data to the ink datasetting unit 45.

(4-2-5) Ink data Setting Unit

Referring to FIG. 52, the ink data setting unit 45 includes a firstpixel detection unit 451 for detecting the pixel based upon full contourdata supplied from the data reading unit 42 and a first picture datasetting unit 452 for setting picture data on the pixel detected by thefirst pixel setting unit 451. The ink data setting unit 45 also includesa second pixel detection unit 453 for detecting the pixel based upon thepixel detected by the first pixel detection unit 451 and a secondpicture data setting unit 454 for setting picture data on the pixeldetected by the second pixel detection unit 453.

The first pixel detection unit 451 detects, based upon the full-contourdata supplied from the data reading unit 42, the pixels on a linesegment l_(i) interconnecting the coordinate point A_(i) of the firstcontour data and the coordinate point B_(i) of the second contour data.One or plural pixels, usually plural pixels, are detected in thismanner. The range of i is from 1 to w. The pixel detected for i=1 isthat on the starting point, while that detected for i=w is that on theend point.

The first picture data setting unit 452 includes an ink/no ink settingunit 455, a first ink density setting unit 456 and a first ink quantitysetting unit 457. The first picture data setting unit 452 sets ink datain the pixel detected by the first pixel detection unit 451 based uponthe writing brush data supplied from the writing brush data setting unit41, full-contour data supplied from the data reading unit 42 and theblurred area data supplied from the blurred area data forming unit 44and sends the ink data to the second picture data setting unit 454 andthe luminance data setting unit 46.

The ink/no ink data setting unit 455 judges, based upon the full-contourdata and the blurred area data, whether or not the pixel detected by thefirst pixel detection unit 451 is within the blurred area KS. If thepixel is within the blurred area KS, the ink/no ink setting unit 455sets the ink/no ink data for specifying the state of ink absence in thepixel. If the pixel is not within the blurred area KS, the ink/no inksetting unit 455 sets the ink/no ink data for specifying the state ofink presence in the pixel. If there are plural pixels detected by thefirst pixel detection unit 451, the ink/no ink setting unit 455naturally judges whether or not the pixels are separately in the blurredarea for setting the ink/no ink data.

If the blurring start length and the blurring end length indicated bythe blurring start length data and by the blurring end length data ofthe blurred area data associated with the figure drawing trajectorytraversing the pixel are denoted as Ks and Ke, respectively, and thefigure length from the starting point as far as the line segment l_(i)is L_(i), the ink presence/ink absence data setting unit 455 judges thepixel as being within and outside the blurred area KS for Ks<Li<Ke andfor Li≦Ps or Ke≦L_(i), respectively. This judgment, however, is givenfor each blurred area KS if plural blurred area data are set. That is,if the pixel being judged is present in the blurred area KS representedby any of the blurred area data, the pixel is judged to be within theblurred area KS. Conversely, if the pixel being judged is presentoutside the blurred area KS represented by all of the blurred area data,the pixel is judged to be outside the blurred area KS.

On the other hand, the first ink density setting unit 456 sets inkdensity in the pixel detected by the first pixel detection unit 451,based upon writing brush data associated with the figure drawingtrajectory traversing the pixel detected by the first pixel detectionunit 451, so that the ink density will be higher the shorter the lengthof the figure from the starting point as far as the line segment l_(i).The first ink density setting unit 456 sends the ink density data to thesecond picture data setting unit 454 and to the luminance data settingunit 46.

The first ink quantity setting unit 457 sets the ink density data in thepixel detected by the first pixel detection unit 451, based upon writingbrush data associated with the figure drawing trajectory traversing thepixel detected by the first pixel detection unit 451, so that the inkquantity will be larger the shorter the length of the figure from thestarting point as far as the line segment l_(i). The first ink quantitysetting unit 457 sends the ink quantity data to the second picture datasetting unit 454 and to the luminance data setting unit 46.

However, if the ink presence/ink absence data is set for the pixel forspecifying the ink absent data, the first ink density setting unit 456sets the ink density data to 0, while the first ink quantity settingunit 457 sets the ink quantity data to 0. If there are plural pixelsdetected by the first pixel detection unit 451, the first ink densitysetting unit 456 and the first ink quantity setting unit 457 naturallycalculate the ink density and the ink quantity on the pixel basis forsetting the ink density data and the ink quantity data, respectively.

The second pixel detection unit 453 detects a pixel lying between thepixel on the line segment l_(i), as detected by the first pixeldetection unit 451, and a pixel on a line segment l_(i+1) neighboring tothe line segment l_(i), as detected by the first pixel detecting unit451. Usually, plural pixels are detected by the second pixel detectionunit 453. If the pixel on the line segment l_(i) and the pixel on theline segment l_(i+1) neighboring to the line segment l_(i) are adjacentto each other, zero pixels are detected by the second pixel detectionnit 453.

The second picture data setting unit 454 includes a second ink densitysetting unit 458 for setting ink density data in the pixel detected bythe second pixel detection unit 453 and a second ink quantity settingunit 459 for setting ink quantity data in the pixel detected by thesecond pixel detection unit 453.

The second ink density setting unit 458 calculates, based upon inkdensity data set in the pixel on the line segment l_(i) supplied fromthe first picture data setting unit 452, distance between the pixel onthe line segment l_(i) and the pixel detected by the second pixeldetection unit 453, ink density data set in the pixel on the linesegment l_(i+1) supplied from the first picture data setting unit 452,and the distance between the pixel on the line segment l_(i+1) and thepixel detected by the second pixel detection unit 453, the ink densityin the pixel detected by the second pixel detection unit 453, sets inkdensity data on the pixel detected by the second pixel detection unit453 and sends the ink density data to the luminance data setting unit46.

The second ink quantity setting unit 459 calculates, based upon inkquantity data set in the pixel on the line segment l_(i) supplied fromthe first picture data setting unit 452, distance between the pixel onthe line segment l_(i) and the pixel detected by the second pixeldetection unit 453, ink quantity data set in the pixel on the linesegment l_(i+1) supplied from the first picture data setting unit 452,and the distance between the pixel on the line segment l_(i+1) and thepixel detected by the second pixel detection unit 453, the ink quantityin the pixel detected by the second pixel detection unit 453, sets inkquantity data on the pixel detected by the second pixel detection unit453 and sends the ink quantity data to the luminance data setting unit46.

(4-2-6) Luminance Data Setting Unit

The luminance data setting unit 46 calculates luminance in each pixel,based upon the paper fiber structure data formed by the above-describedpaper fiber structure data forming unit and picture data set in thefirst and second picture data setting units, and sets luminance data foreach pixel.

The luminance data setting unit 46 calculates the luminance data foreach Pixel, based upon the numbers of fibers M represented by the paperfiber structure data and the ink density and ink quantity data set inthe first picture data setting unit 452 and in the second picture datasetting unit 454, as will be explained subsequently. However, for pixelsfor which the picture data has not been set in the first picture datasetting unit 452 or in the second picture data setting unit 454, defaultdata, such data specifying pure white or data specifying pure black, areset.

The luminance data setting unit 46 calculates luminance using only dataof the numbers of fibers M, among data constituting the paper fiberstructure data. Thus it suffices for the paper fiber structure datareferred to here to have at least the numbers of fibers M, while it isunnecessary for the data to have e.g., the number of capillary tubes.

(4-3) Blurring Processing

An illustrative operation of the blurring processor 40 is explained.

If the blurring selection unit 431 or the first blurring parametercalculating unit 432 is used for setting blurring parameters, theblurring processor 40 performs blurring processing by the followingsteps (a) to (d):

(a) The step of setting writing brush data by the writing brush datasetting unit 41;

(b) the step of setting the blurring parameters by the blurringparameter setting unit 43 using the blurring parameter selection unit431 or the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 andsubsequently forming blurred area data by the blurred area data formingunit 44 based upon the blurring parameters set by the blurring parametersetting unit 43;

(c) reading one or more full-contour data by the data reading unit 42from e.g., the input device 1, memory 3, external storage device 4 orthe font forming processor 20 and selecting the full-contour data as anobject of blurred drawing by the contour data selecting unit 422; and

(d) setting ink data in pixels in a figure by the ink data setting unit45 based upon the full-contour data supplied from the data reading unit42, writing brush data set by the writing brush setting unit 41 and theblurred area data formed by the blurred area data forming unit 4 andsubsequently setting luminance data in he pixels for which the ink datahas been set by the ink data setting unit 45.

The steps (a) to (c) may be carried out in any sequence provided thatthese steps are carried out prior to the step (d).

If the second blurring parameter calculating unit 433 is used forsetting the blurring parameters, the blurring processor 40 performsblurred drawing by the following steps (e) to (h):

(e) The step of setting writing brush data by the writing brush datasetting unit 41;

(f) reading out one or more full-contour data from the input device 1,memory 3, external storage device 4 or the font forming processor 20 bythe data readout unit 42 and selecting the full-contour data as theobject of blurred drawing by the contour data selecting unit 422;

(g) setting blurring parameters by the blurring parameter setting unit43, using the second blurring parameter calculating unit 43, based uponthe full-contour data selected as the object of blurred drawing by theblurring data selecting unit 422 and subsequently forming blurred areadata by the blurred area data forming unit 44 based upon the blurringparameters set by the blurred parameter setting unit 43; and

(h) setting ink data in the pixels in the figure by the ink data settingunit 45 based upon the full-contour data supplied by the data readingunit 42, writing brush data set by the writing brush setting unit 41 andblurred area data formed by the blurred area data forming unit 44 andsubsequently setting luminance data in the pixels in which the ink datahas been set by the ink data setting unit 45.

The step (e) may be set at any stage provided it is performed before thestep (h).

Of the blurring drawing processing steps, the setting of the blurringparameters by the blurring parameter setting unit 43, formation of theblurred area data by the blurred area data forming unit 44, selection ofthe full-contour data by the contour data selecting unit 422 and thesetting of the ink data by the ink data setting unit 45, are explainedin detail.

(4-3-1) Setting of Blurring Parameters by Blurring Parameter SettingUnit

Referring to the flowchart of FIGS. 53 to 57, the illustrative operationof the blurring parameter setting unit 43 is now explained.

At step ST-4-1-1, a command as to which of the blurring parameterselection unit 431, first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 or thesecond blurring parameter calculating unit 433 is to be employed isentered from the input device 1 to the blurring parameter setting unit43.

Then, at steps ST4-1-2, ST4-1-3, ST4-1-4 and ST4-1-5, the blurringparameter setting unit 43 judges, based upon the command entered at stepST4-1-1, which of the blurring parameter selection unit 431, firstblurring parameter calculating unit 432, second blurring parametercalculating unit 433 or the blurring parameter input device 434 is to beemployed. If the blurring parameter selecting unit 431 is to be used,the blurring parameter setting unit 43 transfers to step STST4-1-21,whereas, if the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 is to beused, the blurring parameter setting unit 43 transfers to stepSTST4-1-31. If the second blurring parameter calculating unit 433 is tobe used, the blurring parameter setting unit 43 transfers to stepSTST4-1-41, whereas, if the blurring parameter input device 434 is to beused, the blurring parameter setting unit 43 transfers to stepSTST4-1-51.

Referring to FIG. 54, at step ST4-1-21, to which the blurring parametersetting unit transfers if the blurring parameter is set using theblurring parameter selecting unit 431, a command on which of previouslyformed plural blurring parameters is to be used is entered from theinput device 1 to the blurring parameter selecting unit 431.Specifically, by displaying examples of blurring produced with the useof each of the pre-formed plural blurring parameters on the displaydevice 5, and by the user selecting a desired one of the blurringexamples displayed on the display device 5 using the input device 1,such as a mouse, a command as to which of the blurring parameters is tobe employed is entered to the blurring parameter selection unit 431.Thus the user is able to easily command the blurring parameter requiredfor generating the desired blurring.

Then, at step ST4-1-22, the blurring parameter selecting unit 431selects one of the previously formed plural blurring parameters, basedupon the command entered at step ST4-1-21, and sets the selectedblurring parameter to complete the processing.

At step ST4-1-31, to which the first blurring parameter calculating unittransfers if the blurring parameter is set using the first blurringparameter calculating unit 432, speed distribution data and writingbrush pressure distribution data are entered from the input device, suchas a tablet, to the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432. If,however, the tablet is used as the input device 1, input data tend to befluctuated in an unexpected manner at the input time due to penwobbling. Thus, if the speed distribution or writing brush pressuredistribution be changed significantly within a short period, thesechanges are assumed to be ascribable to unexpected changes in the speeddistribution or writing brush pressure distribution caused by penwobbling at the input time and data correction is made based upontemporally previous or temporally subsequent speed distribution orwriting brush distribution.

Then, at step ST4-1-32, the first blurring parameter calculating unit432 converts the speed distribution data and the writing brush pressuredistribution data entered at step ST4-1-31 into bi-level signals. Thefirst blurring parameter calculating unit 432 then transfers to stepST4-1-33. That is, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432processes the speed distribution data so that the speeds v_(i) (i=1, 2,3, . . . , g) at respective points in the writing brush carryingdirection higher and not higher than a pre-set value, with the writingbrush carrying speed being then higher and lower, respectively, are setto 1 and 0 respectively. Similarly, the first blurring parametercalculating unit 432 processes the writing brush pressure distributiondata so that the writing brush pressures p_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , g) atrespective points in the writing brush carrying direction higher and nothigher than a pre-set value, with the writing brush pressure being thenhigher and lower, respectively, are set to 1 and 0, respectively.

Specifically, if fed with the speed distribution data and the writingbrush distribution data yet to be converted into bi-level signals areentered from the input device 1, as shown for example in FIG. 58, thefirst blurring parameter calculating unit 432 sets the pre-set value toe.g., 0.5, and forms speed distribution data and the writing brushpressure distribution data in the bi-level form, as shown in FIG. 59.The speed distribution data and the writing brush distribution datashown in FIGS. 59 and 60 are simplified for explanation and, in effect,the data yet to be converted into bi-level signals are more abundant inthe number of effective digits or in the overall data volume.

At step ST4-1-33, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432forms blurring brush-carrying data based upon the speed distributiondata and the writing brush distribution data converted into the bi-levelsignals at step ST4-1-32. The first blurring parameter calculating unit432 then transfers to step ST4-1-34.

Specifically, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 formsblurring brush-carrying data made up of g blurring data t_(i) (i=1, 2,3, . . . , g) specifying the state of blurring during brush carrying atrespective g positions within the figure. The values of the blurringdata t_(i) at these a points are in a range of from 0 to 1. The strongerand the weaker the manner of blurring, the larger and the smaller is thevalue of the blurring data t_(i), respectively.

That is, if the speed v_(i) is 0 and the writing brush pressure p_(i) is0, the speed is low and the writing brush pressure is also low, so thatblurring is assumed not to occur significantly, and hence the blurringdata t_(i) is set to a small value, such as 0.3. If the speed v_(i) is 1and the writing brush pressure p_(i) is 0, the speed is high but thewriting brush pressure is low, so that blurring is assumed to occur andhence the blurring data t_(i) is set to the maximum value, that is 1. Ifthe speed v_(i) is 0 and the writing brush pressure p_(i) is 1, thespeed is low but the writing brush pressure is high, so that blurring isassumed not to occur and hence the blurring data t_(i) is set to theminimum value, that is 0. If the speed v_(i) is 1 and the writing brushpressure p_(i) is 1, the speed is high and the writing brush pressure isalso high, so that the blurring is assumed to occur to some extent andhence the blurring data t_(i) is set to a larger value, such as 0.5.

As typical of the blurring brush-carrying data, the blurringbrush-carrying data, formed based upon the speed distribution data andthe writing brush pressure distribution data, shown in FIG. 59, areshown in FIG. 60.

At step ST-4-1-34, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432calculates the blurring parameters, based upon the blurringbrush-carrying data formed at step ST4-1-33, and sets the calculateddata as the blurring parameters, to terminate the processing.

At step ST4-1-41 in FIG. 56, to which the processing transfers when theblurring parameters are set using the second blurring parametercalculating unit 433, the second blurring parameter calculating unit 433forms shape data representing the shape of a figure represented by thefull-contour data supplied from the contour data reading unit 42. Thesecond blurring parameter calculating unit 433 then transfers to stepST4-1-142.

At step ST4-1-42, the second blurring parameter calculating unit 433calculates the blurring parameters, based upon the shape parametersformed at step ST4-1-41, and sets the calculated parameters as theblurring parameters, to terminate the processing.

At step ST4-1-51, shown in FIG. 57, to which the processing transferswhen the blurring parameters are set using the blurring parameter inputdevice 434, the parameters c₁ to c₇ are entered from e.g., the inputdevice 1 to the blurring parameter input device 434.

Then, at step ST4-1-52, the blurring parameter forming unit directlysets the parameters c₁ to c₇ entered at step ST4-1-51 as the blurringparameters to terminate the processing.

If plural blurred areas are resent in a figure, that is if pluralblurred area data are set, plural sets of the blurring parameters areset in association with the respective blurred area data.

(4-3-2) Formation of Blurred Area Data by Blurred Area Data Forming Unit

An illustrative operation of the blurred area data forming unit 44 isexplained by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 61.

At step ST4-2-1, the blurred area data forming unit 44 initializes theblurred area data and sets all blurring start length data and allblurring end length data to e.g., 1. The blurred area data forming unit44 then transfers to step ST4-2-2.

At step ST4-2-2, blurred area data forming unit 44 refers to the valueof the parameter c₇ and transfers to steps ST4-2-3 and ST4-2-4 if thevalue of the parameter c₇ is 1 (YES) and is not 1 (NO), respectively.

At step ST4-2-3, the blurred area data forming unit 44 sets values tothe blurring start length data and the blurring end length data,associated with all drawing trajectories positioned within thewidth-wise range as set by the parameters c₃ and c₄. That is, if thevalue of c₇ is 1, the width-wise range of blurring defined by theparameters c₃ and c₄ represents the blurred area. The blurred area dataforming unit 44 sets values on these blurring start and end length datato terminate the processing.

Specifically, the blurred area data forming unit 44 sets at random avalue ranging from c₁ to (c₁ +c₅) as the blurring start length data,while setting at random a value ranging from c₂ to (c₂ +c₆) as theblurring end length data. Thus the blurring start length data and theblurring end length data, associated with the drawing trajectorieslocated within the width-wise range of blurring as defined by theparameters c₃, c₄, are fluctuated within the range of from c₁ to (c₁+c₅) and within the range of from c₂ to (c₂ +c₆), respectively.

At step ST4-2-4, the blurred area data forming unit 44 calculates howmany of the drawing trajectories positioned within the width-wiseblurring range as defined by the parameters c₃ and c₄ are associatedwith the blurred area. The blurred area data forming unit 44 thentransfers to step ST4-2-5. That is, if the value of value of c₇ is not1, all of the width-wise blurring range defined by the parameters c₃ andc₄ is not the blurred area. Specifically, the number n of the drawingtrajectories associated with the blurred area is calculated as n=m×|c₃-c₄ |×c₇, where m is the total number of the drawing trajectories.

At step ST4-2-5, the blurred area data forming unit 44 selects at randomone of the drawing trajectories located within the width-wise blurringrange defined by the parameters c₃ and c₄, and sets values in theblurring start length data and the blurring end length data associatedwith the drawing trajectories. The blurred area data forming unit 44then transfers to step ST4-2-6.

Specifically, the blurred area data forming unit 44 sets at random avalue ranging from c₁ to (c₁ +c₅) for the blurring start length data,while setting at random a value ranging from c₂ to (c₂ +c₆) for theblurring end length data. Thus the blurring start length data and theblurring end length data, associated with the drawing trajectorieslocated within the width-wise range of blurring as defined by theparameters c₃, c₄, are fluctuated within the range of from c₁ to (c₁+c₅) and within the range of from c₂ to (c₂ +c₆), respectively.

Meanwhile, if values other than initial values are set in the blurringstart length data and the blurring end length data, associated with theselected drawing trajectories, that is if the processing correspondingto step ST4-2-5 is previously performed, the blurred area data formingunit 44 selects the next drawing trajectories, without updating thevalues of the blurring start length data and the blurring end lengthdata associated with the pre-selected drawing trajectories.

At step ST4-2-6, the blurred area data forming unit 44 compares thenumber of times of the processing operations of the step ST4-2-5, thatis the number of the blurring start length data and the blurring endlength data, for which values other than the initial values have beenset, to the number n of the drawing trajectories associated with theblurred area, calculated at step ST4-2-4. If the result is NO, that isif the number of times of processing at step ST4-2-5 is less than thenumber n of the drawing trajectories calculated at step ST4-2-4, theblurred area data forming unit 44 reverts to step ST4-2-5 to repeat theprocessing. If the result is YES, that is if the number of times ofprocessing at step ST4-2-5 has reached the number n of the drawingtrajectories calculated at step ST4-2-4, the processing comes to aclose.

If there are plural blurred areas, that is if plural blurring parametersare set, plural blurred area data are set in association with therespective blurring parameters.

(4-3-3) Selection of Full-Contour Data by Contour Data Selection Unit

The illustrative operation of the contour data selecting unit 422 isexplained by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 62.

At step ST4-3-1, the contour data selection unit 422 selects from allfull-contour data the full-contour data having the longest length of thefigure represented by the full-contour data. The contour data selectionunit 422 then transfers to step ST4-3-2.

At step ST4-3-2, the full-length data selecting unit 422 judges thenumber of the selected full-contour data with respect to the number ofall full-contour. If the number of the selected full-contour data is notmore than one-third (YES), the full-length data selecting unit 422transfers to step ST4-3-3. If the number of the selected full-contourdata exceeds one-third (NO), the full-length data selecting unit 422transfers to step ST4-3-4.

At step ST4-3-3, the full-length data selecting unit 422 selects onenon-selected full-contour data, from among the full-contour dataexcluding the full-contour data directly before and after thefull-contour data selected at step ST4-3-1, which has the longest lengthof the figure represented by the full-contour data. The full-length dataselecting unit 422 then reverts to step ST4-3-2 to repeat theprocessing.

On the other hand, the full-length data selecting unit 422 selects atrandom one full-contour data, from among the non-selected full-contourdata, to terminate the processing.

(4-3-4) Setting of Ink Data by Ink Data Setting Unit

The illustrative operation of the ink data setting unit 45 is explainedby referring to the flowchart of FIG. 63.

At step ST4-4-1, the first pixel detection unit 451 sets the value ofthe number i of times of processing flag to 0, before transferring tostep ST4-4-2.

At step ST4-4-2, the first pixel detection unit 451 increments the valueof the number i of times of processing flag by 1, before transferring tostep ST4-4-3.

At step ST4-4-3, the first pixel detection unit 451 compares the numberw of the coordinate points of the first or second contour data to thevalue i of the number of times of processing flag. If i≦w (YES), theprocessing transfers to step ST4-4-4. If i>w (NO), the processingtransfers to step ST4-4-8.

At step ST4-4-4, the first pixel detection unit 451 detects the pixelson a line segment l_(i) interconnecting the coordinate point A_(i) ofthe first contour data and the coordinate point B_(i) of the secondcontour data, where i denotes the value of the number of times ofprocessing flag i.

Then, at step ST4-4-5, the ink presence/ink absence setting unit 455refers to blurred area data in order to judge whether or not the pixeldetected at step ST4-4-4 is within the blurred area. If the pixel isfound to be within the blurred area, the ink presence/ink absence datais set for indicating the state of ink absence in the pixel. If thepixel is not found to be within the blurred area, the ink presence/inkabsence data is set for indicating the state of ink presence in thepixel.

If there exist plural blurred areas, that is if there exist plural setsof the blurred area data, the ink presence/ink absence setting unit 455judges, based upon all of the blurred area data sets, whether or not thepixel detected at step ST4-4-4 is within the blurred area.

Then, at step ST4-4-6, the first ink quantity setting unit 457 refers towriting brush data for setting ink quantity data in the pixel detectedat step ST4-4-4 so that the shorter the length of the figure from thebeginning point as far as the line segment l_(i), the more becomes theink quantity. However, if the ink presence/ink absence data specifyingthe state of ink absence in the pixel is set at step ST4-4-5, the firstink quantity setting unit 457 sets the ink quantity data to 0.

Then, at step ST4-4-7, the first ink density setting unit 456 refers towriting brush data for setting ink density data in the pixel detected atstep ST4-4-4 so that the shorter the length of the figure from thebeginning point as far as the line segment l_(i), the higher becomes theink density. If, however, the ink presence/ink absence data is set atstep ST4-4-5 for specifying the state of ink depletion in the pixel, thefirst ink density setting unit 456 sets the ink density data of thepixel to 0. After end of the step ST4-4-7, processing reverts to stepST4-4-2 to repeat the processing.

However, if there are plural pixels detected at step ST4-4-4, the inkpresence/ink absence data, ink density data and the ink quantity dataare set from pixel to pixel at steps ST4-4-5 to ST4-5-7.

On the other hand, the second pixel detection unit 453 detects, at stepST4-4-8, a pixel on a line segment l interconnecting the pixel on theline segment l_(i) for which the ink data has been set at steps ST4-4-5to ST4-4-7 and the pixel on the line segment l_(i+1) for which the inkdata has been set at steps ST4-4-5 to ST4-4-7. The second picture datasetting unit 454 calculates the ink density and the ink quantity in thedetected pixels, based upon the ink data set on the pixel on the linesegment l_(i), ink data set on the pixel on the line segment l_(i+1),distance between the detected pixel and the pixel on the line segmentl_(i) and the distance between the detected pixel and the pixel on theline segment l_(i+1), for setting the ink density data and the inkquantity data on the detected pixels. After setting the ink density dataand the ink quantity data in all pixels on the line segment l, thesecond pixel data setting unit 454 terminates the processing.

Since plural pixels on the line segment l are usually detected, thesecond pixel data setting unit 454 calculates the ink density and theink quantity for each detected pixel for setting the ink density dataand the ink quantity data.

If there are plural pixels on the line segment l_(i) or on the linesegment l_(+1i), the second pixel detection unit 453 sets plural linesegments i interconnecting the pixels on the line segment l_(i) and thepixels on the line segment l_(i+1), so that these line segments extendalong the contour of the figure, from pixel to pixel, and detects pixelson the line segment l for each of these line segments l. If the numberof the pixels on the line segment l_(i) differs from that of the pixelson the line segment l_(i+1), the line segments are set so that theposition of the pixels on the line segment l_(i) along the width of thefigure corresponds to that of the pixels on the line segment l_(i+1)along the width of the figure.

The above explanation has been made for the case of setting full-contourdata representing an object of the blurred drawing, that is full-contourdata selected as an object of blurred drawing by the contour dataselecting unit 422. If ink data is to be set for the full-contour datanot representing the object of blurred drawing, that is the full-contourdata not selected by the blurred data selecting unit 422 as the objectof blurred drawing, the ink data setting unit 45 disregards the inkpresence/ink absence data, or assumes the ink presence/ink absence datato be ink presence data, in setting the ink density data and the inkquantity data.

(4-4) Method for Setting Data Values

Next, illustrative values of various data set in the blurred pictureprocessor 40 are explained.

(4-4-1) Setting of Blurring Parameters by First Blurring ParameterCalculating Unit

The first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 sets two sets ofblurring parameters. The reason the two sets of the blurring parametersare set is that two blurred portions are produced at most per strokewhen a character is actually written with the writing brush on thepaper, so that it suffices to set two blurred areas for representing ablurred character. However, the number of sets of the blurred parametersis not limited to two and may naturally be varied depending upon thefigure to be produced.

In the description to follow, the portion of the blurring data t_(i) ofthe blurring writing brush carrying data in which the value of t_(i) iscontinuously "1" as shown at A in FIG. 64 is termed "an area with t_(i)=1.0". Similarly, the portion of the blurring data t_(i) in which thevalue of t_(i) is continuously "0.5" as shown at B in FIG. 64 is termed"an area with t_(i) =0.5", while the portion of the blurring data t_(i)in which the value of t_(i) is continuously "0.3" as shown at C in FIG.64 is termed "an area with t_(i) =0.3".

The first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 operates in accordancewith the flowchart shown in FIGS. 65 to 67 for setting the blurringparameters based upon the blurring brush-carrying data.

At step ST4-5-1, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432initializes two sets of blurring parameters before transferring to stepST4-5-2. Specifically, the parameters c₁ to c₇ are all set to 0.

At step ST4-5-2, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts the area with t₁ =1.0. If there exists one or more of the areawith t_(i) =1.0 (YES), the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432transfers to step ST4-5-3. If there exists no area with t_(i) =1.0 (NO),the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 transfers to stepST4-5-13.

At step ST4-5-3, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts the area with t_(i) =1.0. If there exist two or more of thearea with t_(i) =1.0 (YES), the first blurring parameter calculatingunit 432 transfers to step ST4-5-4. If only one such area exists, thefirst blurring parameter calculating unit 432 transfers to step ST4-5-6.

At step ST4-5-4, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects two areas with t_(i) =1.0 and transfers to step ST4-5-5. Two ofthese areas with t_(i) =1.0 are selected in the order of the decreasinglength of the area with t_(i) =1.0, that is in the decreasing order ofthe number of t_(i) in the area with t_(i) =1.0.

At step ST4-5-5, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setstwo sets of blurring parameters in association with the two areas witht_(i) =1.0, selected at step ST4-5-4, in accordance with the equation(4-2), to terminate the processing. ##EQU2##

In the above equation, T_(i) stands for the value of t_(i) in an area asan object of setting of the blurring parameters, that is 1.0, 0.5 and0.3 for the areas with t_(i) =1.0, t_(i) =0.5 and with t_(i) =0.3,respectively, and |T_(i) | stands for the length of the area. The lengthof the area is normalized with the figure length being set to 1 andhence assumes the value of from 0 to 1. The same holds for the length ofthe figure, as explained subsequently.

On the other hand, T_(i-1) specifies the value of t_(i) in an area witht_(i) =0.5 or 0.3 neighboring to one side of the area for which theblurring parameters are set, while |T_(i-1) | denotes the length of thearea. Similarly, T_(i+1) specifies the value of t_(i) in an area witht_(i) =0.5 or 0.3 neighboring to the other side of the area for whichthe blurring parameters are set, while |T_(i+1) | denotes the length ofthe area.

T_(is) stands for the length of the figure from the beginning point ofthe figure as far as the starting point of the areas with t_(i) =1.0,0.5 or 0.3 selected for setting the blurring parameters, while T_(ie)stands for the length of the figure from the beginning point of thefigure as far as the end point of the areas with t_(i) =1.0, 0.5 or 0.3selected for setting the blurring parameters.

In the above equation, e is a coefficient representing an initial valueof the fluctuations of the blurring start position and the blurring endposition along the length of the figure, and is pre-set to a value onthe order of 1/20.

At step ST4-5-6, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters, in association with the area with t_(i)=1.0, in accordance with the equation (4-2). The first blurringparameter calculating unit 432 then transfers to step ST4-45-7.

At step ST4-5-7, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts the areas with t_(i) =0.5. If there is one or more area witht_(i) =0.5 (YES), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-8. If otherwise(NO), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-10.

At step ST4-5-8, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects one area with t_(i) =0.5 before transferring to step ST4-5-9. Inselecting the area with t_(i) =1.0, such area with the longest length ofthe area t_(i) =0.3, that is with the largest number of t_(i) in theareas with t_(i) =1.0.

At step ST4-5-9, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters in association with the areas with t_(i)=0.5 selected at step ST4-5-8, in accordance with the following equation(4-3): ##EQU3## before terminating the processing.

At step ST4-5-10, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts the areas with t_(i) =0.3. It there is one or more area witht_(i) =0.3 (YES), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-11. Ifotherwise (NO), the processing is terminated.

At step ST4-5-11, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects an area with t_(i) =0.3 before transferring to step ST4-5-12. Inselecting the area with t_(i) =0.3, such area with the longest length ofthe area t_(i) =0.3, that is with the largest number of t_(i) in theareas with t_(i) =0.3, is selected.

At step ST4-5-12, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters in association with the areas with t_(i)=0.5 selected at step ST4-5-11, in accordance with the followingequation (4-4): ##EQU4##

On the other hand, at step ST4-5-13 shown in FIG. 66, the first blurringparameter calculating unit 432 extracts the areas with t_(i) =0.5. Ifthere is one or more area with t_(i) =0.5 (YES), the processingtransfers to step ST4-5-14 and, if otherwise (NO), the processingtransfers to step ST4-5-21.

At step ST4-5-14, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts the areas with t_(i) =0.5. If there are two or more areas witht_(i) =0.5 (YES), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-15 and, ifotherwise (NO), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-17.

At step ST4-5-15, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects two or more areas with t_(i) =0.5 before transferring to stepST4-5-16. Two of these areas with t_(i) =0.5 are selected in the orderof the decreasing length of the area with t_(i) =0.5, that is in thedecreasing order of the number of t_(i) in the area with t_(i) =0.5.

At step ST4-5-16, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setstwo sets of blurring parameters in association with two areas with t_(i)=0.5 selected at step ST4-5-15, in accordance with the above equation(4-3), before terminating the processing.

At step ST4-5-17, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters in association with the area t_(i) =0.5, inaccordance with the above equation (4-3), before transferring to stepST4-5-18.

At step ST4-5-18, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts areas with t_(i) =0.3. If there is one or more area with t_(i)=0.5 (YES), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-19 and, if otherwise(NO), the processing is terminated.

At step ST4-5-19, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects an area with t_(i) =0.3 before transferring to step ST4-5-20. Inselecting the areas with t_(i) =0.5, such area with the longest lengthof the area t_(i) =0.5, that is with the largest number of t_(i) in theareas with t_(i) =0.5, is selected.

At step ST4-5-20, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters in association with the area with t_(i)=0.3 selected at step ST4-5-19, in accordance with the above equation(4-4), before terminating the processing.

At step ST4-5-21 shown in FIG. 67, the first blurring parametercalculating unit 432 extracts the areas with t_(i) =0.3. If there is oneor more area with t_(i) =0.3 (YES), the processing transfers to stepST4-5-22 and, if otherwise (NO), the first blurring parametercalculating unit 432 terminates the processing.

At step ST4-5-22, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432extracts two areas with t_(i) =0.3. If there are two or more areas witht_(i) =0.3 (YES), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-23 and, ifotherwise (NO), the processing transfers to step ST4-5-25.

At step ST4-5-23, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432selects two areas with t_(i) =0.3 before transferring to step ST4-5-24.Two of these areas with t_(i) =0.3 are selected in the order of thedecreasing length of the area with t_(i) =0.3, that is in the decreasingorder of the number of t_(i) in the area with t_(i) =1.0.

At step ST4-5-24, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setstwo sets of blurring parameters in association with two areas with t_(i)=0.3 selected at step ST4-5-23, in accordance with the above equation(4-4), before terminating the processing.

At step ST4-5-25, the first blurring parameter calculating unit 432 setsa set of blurring parameters in association with the area t_(i) =0.3, inaccordance with the above equation (4-4), to terminate the processing.

(4-4-2) Setting Blurring Parameters by Second Blurring ParameterCalculating Unit

An illustrative embodiment of the blurring parameters set by the secondblurring parameter calculating unit 433 is explained.

In setting the blurring parameters by the second blurring parametercalculating unit 433, the figures are classified, based upon the shapedata, as shown for example in Tables 1 and 2:

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________                                         mean                                  length width    number          length  bend     width  between                                         between    of    of      of       of     bend   bend    bends figure  figure   figure points points    ______________________________________    0             D.sub.3 < r                           D.sub.8 ≦ W  pattern                  avg      min                 1                           D.sub.5 < W                           max                           W min <             pattern                           D.sub.6             2                           D.sub.5 < W                           max                           D.sub.4 ≦ W  pattern                           max                 3                           W.sub.-- max <                           D.sub.5                           W max <             pattern                           D.sub.4             4                  r.sub.-- avg ≦                           D.sub.5 < W         pattern                  D.sub.3  max                 5                           D.sub.4 ≦ W  pattern                           max                 6                           W max ≦                           D.sub.5                           W max <             pattern                           D.sub.4             7    1     L ≦ D.sub.1                   pattern                                               8          D.sub.1 < L             L.sub.1 < 2/3 ×                                         D.sub.4 ≦                                               pattern                                  L      W.sub.2                                               9                                         W.sub.2 <                                               pattern                                         D.sub.4                                               10                                  2/3 × L ≦                                               pattern                                  L.sub.1      11    ______________________________________

                  TABLE 2    ______________________________________                                        mean                                        width    number          length  bend     width                                length  between    of    of      of       of   between bend    bends figure  figure   figure                                bend points                                        points    ______________________________________    2     L ≦ D.sub.1                   pattern                                               8          D.sub.1 < L           1/5 × L < L.sub.2                                        W.sub.2 ≦ W.sub.1                                               pattern                                        W.sub.2 ≦ W.sub.3                                               12                                        W.sub.3 < W.sub.2                                               pattern                                               13                                L.sub.2 ≦ 1/5 × L                                               pattern                                L.sub.3 ≦ L.sub.1                                               14                                L.sub.2 ≦ 1/5 × L                                               pattern                                L.sub.1 < L.sub.3                                               15          L ≦ D.sub.1                   pattern                                               8          D.sub.1 < L           1/3 ≦ L.sub.2 -L.sub.3                                        W.sub.2 ≦ W.sub.1                                               pattern                                        W.sub.2 ≦ W.sub.3                                               16                                        W.sub.2 ≦ W.sub.4                                        W.sub.3 < W.sub.2                                               pattern                                        W.sub.3 < W.sub.4                                               16                                        W.sub.4 < W.sub.3                                               pattern                                               17                                L.sub.4 < L.sub.1                                               pattern                                               18                                L.sub.1 ≦ L.sub.4                                               pattern                                               19    4 or                        1/5 × L < L.sub.i                                               pattern    more                                       16                                L.sub.i ≦ 1/5 × L                                               pattern                                               20    ______________________________________

In Tables 1 and 2, D₁, D₂, D₃, D₄, D₅ and D₆ stand for values pre-setfor classifying the figures.

In Tables 1 and 2,. the number of bend points is based upon bend pointdata and stands for the number of portions bent in more than a pre-setangle. The length of the figure is based upon length data and L standsfor the length of the figure. The bend of the figure is based uponcurvature data, with r₋₋ avg representing the mean value of thecurvature data. The figure width is based upon width data and W₋₋ minstands for the smallest value of the figure width represented by thewidth data, while W₋₋ max stands for the largest value of the figurewidth represented by the width data.

The length between bend points is based upon curved point data and thelength data and stands for the figure length which is the figure lengthbetween bend points. It is noted that L stands for the length of thefigure from the beginning point to the end point and L_(i) stands forthe figure length from the (i-1)'th bend point to the i'th bend point.That is, L₁ stands for the figure length from the beginning point to thefirst bend point and L₂ stands for the figure length from the beginningpoint to the end point if the number of bend points is 1 and the figurelength from the beginning point to the second bend point if the numberof bend points is 2. On the other hand, L₃ stands for the figure lengthfrom the second bend point to the end point if the number of bend pointsis 2 and the figure length from the second bend point to the third bendpoint if the number of bend points is 3, while L₄ stands for the figurelength from the third bend point to the end point if the number of bendpoints is 3 and the figure length from the third bend point to thefourth bend point if the number of bend points is 4.

The mean width between bend points is a value based upon the curvedpoint data and the width data and stands for the mean figure widthbetween the bend points. It is noted that W_(i) stands for the meanwidth of the figure from the (i-1)'st bend point to the i'th bend point.That is, W₁ stands for the mean width of the figure from the beginningpoint to the end point, while W₂ stands for the mean width of the figurefrom the bend point to the end point and that from the first bend pointto the second bend point if the number of bends is 1 and not less than2, respectively. On the other hand, W₃ stands for the mean width of thefigure from the second bend point to the end point and that from thesecond bend point to the third bend point if the number of bends is 2and 3, respectively, while W₄ stands for the mean width of the figurefrom the third bend point to the end point.

The second blurring parameter calculating unit 433 sets blurringparameters in accordance with the patterns classified as shown in Table1 and 2 so that the blurring has characteristics as shown in Tables 3and 4. FIGS. 68 to 87 illustrate examples of blurring when the blurringparameters are set so that the blurring will have characteristics shownin Tables 3 an 4.

                  TABLE 3    ______________________________________    position of length of                         width of    blurred     blurred  blurred  manner of    area        area     area     blurring                                          examples    ______________________________________    pattern 1           mid part about 1/3                             about 1/3                                    intense FIG. 68    pattern 2           rear part                    about 1/3                             about 1/2                                    intense FIG. 69    pattern 3           end part 1/8 to 1/3                             1/2 to 1.0                                    partly linear                                            FIG. 70                                    and partly                                    intense    pattern 4           rear part                    1/4 to 1/2                             1/2 to 3/4                                    linear  FIG. 71    pattern 5           near bend                    about 1/3                             1/3 to 1/2                                    linear  FIG. 72           point    pattern 6           near bend                    about 3/8                             about 1/3                                    linear  FIG. 73           point    pattern 7           end part about 1/3                             1/3 to 1/2                                    linear  FIG. 74    pattern 8           end part about 1/4                             about 1/2                                    partly linear                                            FIG. 75                                    and partly                                    intense    pattern 9           near bend                    about    1/3 to 2/3                                    partly linear                                            FIG. 76           point    1/2 × W.sub.2                                    and partly                                    intense    pattern 10           end part about    about 1/2                                    intense FIG. 77                    2/3 × W.sub.2    ______________________________________

                  TABLE 4    ______________________________________    position of length of                         width of    blurred     blurred  blurred  manner of    area        area     area     blurring                                          Examples    ______________________________________    pattern 11           end part about    about 2/3                                    partly  FIG. 78                    2/3 × W.sub.2                                    intense and                                    partly linear    pattern 12           mid part about    1/3 to 1/2                                    partly linear                                            FIG. 79                    2/3 × W.sub.2                                    and partly                                    intense    pattern 13           end part about    1/2 to 2/3                                    linear  FIG. 80                    2/3 × W.sub.3    pattern 14           fore half                    about    about 1/2                                    linear  FIG. 81                    1/2 × W.sub.1    pattern 15           end part about    1/3 to 1/2                                    partly linear                                            FIG. 82                    1/2 × W.sub.3                                    and partly                                    intense    pattern 16           finest   about    1/2 to 2/3                                    linear  FIG. 83           portion  1/4 × W.sub.i    pattern 17           end part about    1/2 to 2/3                                    linear  FIG. 84                    3/4 × W.sub.4    pattern 18           fore half                    about    about 1/2                                    intense FIG. 85                    1/2 × W.sub.1    pattern 19           end part about    about 1/2                                    linear  FIG. 86                    1/2 × W.sub.4    pattern 20           end part about 1/4                             1/2 to 2/3                                    linear  FIG. 87    ______________________________________

In Tables 3 and 4, the position of the blurred area indicates theposition of the blurred area along the figure length. The "fore half"means that the blurring occurs in the start point side region and the"rear half" means that the blurring occurs in the end point side region.The start point side area means a start point side area obtained onbisecting a figure into two equal portions along its length, while anend point side area means an end point side area obtained on bisecting afigure into two equal portions along its length. The start part, midpart and the end part mean the cases in which blurring occurs in thestart area, mid area and in the end area, respectively. The startingarea means a start point side area obtained on tri-secting a figure intothree portions along its length. The mid area and the end area mean amid point side area and an end point side area obtained on tri-sectingthe figure into three portions along its length, respectively.

The length of the blurred area means a mean length of the blurred areawith respect to the figure length set to 1, while the width of theblurred area means a width of the blurred area with respect to thefigure width set to 1. W₁, W₂ and W₃ mean the values of mean widthbetween the bend points and are the same as those shown in Tables 1 and2.

The manner of blurring means the blurring density. Thus, "intense" meanssevere blurring in which only little ink is present in the blurredportion, while "linear" means weak blurring in which a considerableamount of ink is present in the blurred portion and "partly intense andpartly linear" means the moderate blurring intermediate between theintense blurring and linear blurring in which a certain amount of ink ispresent in the blurred portion.

(4-4-3) Setting of Ink Density Data by First Ink Density Setting Unit

An illustrative example of ink density data as set by the first inkdensity setting unit 456 is now explained.

When setting ink density data Id_(p) on a pixel P on an i'th linesegment l_(i), the first ink density setting unit 456 calculates andsets ink density data Id_(p), based upon ink density ID_(p) of writingbrush data associated with the drawing trajectory passing thought thepixel P, in accordance with the following equation (4-5):

    Id.sub.p =ID.sub.p =a×i                              (4-5)

where a is a coefficient of a pre-set value for representing the mannerin which the ink density becomes gradually lower beginning from thestart point. Specifically, it is set to a value on the order of 0.2.

However, if the value of Id_(p) calculated by the equation (4-5) islower than a pre-set value, the first ink density setting unit 456 setsthe ink density data Id_(p) to 0. If the ink density becomes lower inthis manner than the pre-set value, the figure is no longer drawn sothat the blurring drawn is that near the end part of the figure.

On the other hand, the first in density setting unit 456 graduallysequentially modifies the ink density of the writing brush data fortaking into account the ink flow within the writing brush during figuredrawing. Specifically, if the values of ink density of the writing brushdata corresponding to the k'th, (k-1)st and the (k+1)st drawingtrajectories are ID_(k), ID_(k-1) and ID_(k+1), respectively, the firstink density setting unit 456 before setting the ink density data Id_(p)on a pixel P on the line segment l_(i) updates the ink density values ofthe writing brush data in accordance with the equation (4-6):

    ID.sub.k =ID.sub.k +b×(ID.sub.k+1 -ID.sub.k)+b×(ID.sub.k-1 -ID.sub.k)                                                (4-6)

where b is a coefficient of pre-set value for representing the ink flowwithin the writing brush. If ID_(k-1) is not present in the equation(4-6), that is if the ink density is the first ink density, ID_(k-1) isset to ID_(k) (ID_(k-1) =ID_(k)). If ID_(k+1) is not present in theequation (4-6), that is if the ink density is the last ink density,ID_(k+1) is set to ID_(k) (ID_(k+1) =ID_(k)).

When setting the ink amount data Iq_(p) on the pixel P on the i'th linesegment l_(i), the first ink quantity setting unit 457 calculates andsets the ink quantity data Iq_(p), based upon the ink quantity dataIQ_(p) of the writing brush data corresponding to the drawing trajectorypassing through the pixel P, in accordance with the equation (4-7):

    Id.sub.q =IQ.sub.p ×exp (c×i)                  (4-7)

where c is a coefficient of a pre-set value for representing the mannerin which the ink quantity becomes gradually thinner from the beginningpoint. Specifically, it is set to a value on the order of -0.03.

However, if the value of Id_(p) calculated by the equation (4-7) islower than a pre-set value, the first ink density setting unit 457 setsthe ink density data Id_(p) to 0. Thus, if the ink density becomes lowerthan the pre-set value, the figure is no longer drawn so that theblurring drawn is that near the end part of the figure.

On the other hand, the first in quantity setting unit 457 graduallysequentially modifies the ink quantity of the writing brush data fortaking into account the ink flow within the writing brush during figuredrawing. Specifically, if the values of ink quantity of the writingbrush data corresponding to the k'th, (k-1)st and the (k+1)st drawingtrajectories are IQ_(k), IQ_(k-1) and IQ_(k+1), respectively, the firstink quantity setting unit 457 before setting the ink quantity dataIq_(p) on the pixel P on the line segment l_(i) updates the ink quantityvalues of the writing brush data in accordance with the equation (4-8):

    IQ.sub.k =IQ.sub.k +d×(IQ.sub.k+1 -IQ.sub.k)+d×(IQ.sub.k-1 -IQ.sub.k)                                                (4-8)

where b is a coefficient of a pre-set value for representing the inkflow within the writing brush. If IQ_(k-1) is not present in theequation (4-8), that is if the ink quantity is the first ink quantity,IQ_(k-1) is set to IQ_(k) (IQ_(k-1) =IQ_(k)) On the other hand, ifIQ_(k+1) is not present in the equation (4-8), that is if the inkquantity is the last ink quantity, IQ_(k+1) is set to IQ_(k) (IQ_(k+1)=IQ_(k)).

(4-4-5) Setting of Ink Density by Second Ink Density Setting Unit

An illustrative example of ink density data set by the second inkdensity setting unit 459 is now explained.

When setting ink density data Id_(r) based upon the ink density dataId_(p) of the pixel P on the line segment l_(i), ink density data Id_(q)of the pixel Q on the line segment l_(i), the distance PR between pixelsQ and R on the line segment l_(i) and the distance QR between pixels Pand Q on the line segment l_(i+1), the second ink density setting unit458 calculates and sets the ink quantity data Iq_(r) in accordance with,for example, the equation (4-9):

    Id.sub.r =Id.sub.p ×(PR/PQ)+Id.sub.q ×(QR/PQ)  (4-9)

where PQ stands for the distance between the pixels P and Q.

(4-4-6) Setting of Ink Quantity by Second Ink Quantity Setting Unit

An illustrative example of ink quantity data set by the second inkquantity setting unit 459 is now explained.

When setting ink quantity data Iq_(r) based upon the ink quantity dataIq_(p) of the pixel P on the line segment l_(i), ink quantity dataIq_(q) of the pixel Q on the line segment l_(i+1), the distance PRbetween pixels Q and R on the line segment l_(i) and the distance QRbetween pixels P and Q on the line segment l_(i+1), the second inkquantity setting unit 459 calculates and sets the ink quantity dataIq_(r) in accordance with, for example, the equation (4-9):

    Iq.sub.r =Iq.sub.p ×(PR/PQ)+Iq.sub.q ×(QR/PQ)  (4-10)

where PQ stands for the distance between the pixels P and Q.

(4-4-7) Setting of Luminance Data by Luminance Data Setting Unit

An illustrative example of ink density data set by the luminance datasetting unit 46 is now explained.

The luminance data setting unit 46 sets luminance I in the pixel P,based upon paper fiber structure data formed by the paper fiberstructure data forming processor 30 and picture data set by the firstand second picture data setting units 454. That is, the luminance datasetting unit 46 calculates and sets luminance I in each pixel inaccordance with the equations (4-11) and (4-12):

    I=1-f×Id.sub.p ×Iq.sub.p (for M>6)             (4-11)

    I=1(for M<6)                                               (4-12)

where Id_(p), Iq_(p) and M stand for the ink density data, ink quantitydata and the number of paper fiber structure data in the pixel P,respectively. The value of the luminance ranges from 0 and 1, with theinitial value of the luminance I being 1.

In the above equations (4-11) and (4-12), f is a coefficient pre-set toa suitable value. If, in the equation (4-12), the value of I exceeds 1,the value of I is set to 1.

By setting the luminance I in this manner, it becomes possible to takeaccount of the effect of paper fiber structure on blurring and hence torepresent a blurred figure more realistically.

In the foregoing description, both the ink density data and the inkquantity data have been set as ink data. However, for simplifying data,only the ink density data or the in quantity data may be set. In suchcase, the luminance I in the pixel P may be calculated by simplymodifying the equation (4-11) to the following equations (4-13) or(4-14):

    I=1-f×Iq.sub.p (for M>6)                             (4-13)

    I=1-f×Id.sub.p (for M>6)                             (4-14)

(5) Bled Figure Drawing Processor

Referring to FIGS. 88 to 111, a preferred embodiment of the bled figuredrawing processor is explained.

If a figure is drawn on a paper sheet with ink, bleeding is producedaround a figure. Based upon the modelled bleeding phenomenon, the bledfigure drawing processor 50 forms picture data for representing a bledfigure from picture data representing a figure which is to undergobleeding. The picture data of the bled figure thus prepared by theblurred figure processor 50 is fed to the display unit 1 for drawing abled figure on the display screen of the display device 1.

For modelling the bleeding phenomenon, the information such as inkquantity or density in the figure to undergo bleeding is required. Thus,in preparing picture data of the bled figure in the bled figure drawingprocessor 50, the picture data of the figure to undergo bleedingincludes data as to the ink quantity and ink density in the figure. Suchpicture data may be exemplified by the picture data formed in theblurred figure drawing processor 40.

(5-1) Modelling the Bleeding Phenomenon

The bleeding generated on drawing a figure on a paper sheet with ink isdiffused by the ink flowing in the interstices of the fibers making upthe paper sheet. The interstices of the fibers through which flows theink is referred to hereinafter as the capillary tube. The density of thecolor in the bled portion of the figure depends upon the ink absorbed bythe paper sheet, that is by the quantity or the density of the ink heldin the interstices of the fibers making up the paper sheet. Thus, formodelling the bleeding phenomenon, it is necessary to model the mannerin which the ink flows and to calculate the quantity and the density ofthe ink held in the fiber interstices. The modelled ink flow,calculation of the ink quantity held in the fiber interstices andcalculation of the density of ink held in the fiber interstices will nowbe explained.

(5-1-1) Modelling the Manner in which Ink Flows

The modelling of the ink flow is first explained.

Bleeding is diffused by the ink flowing in the capillary tube, asdescribed above. Such ink flow may be modelled by assuming that thepaper sheet is made up of plural micro-sized areas, referred to hereinas pixels, the ink flows between the neighboring pixels if these pixelsare interconnected by the capillary tube, and that the ink does not flowbetween the neighboring pixels if these pixels are not interconnected bythe capillary tube.

The modelling may be performed by assuming that, when the ink flows intoa given pixel, the ink is held in the interstices of the fibers in thepixel and absorbed therein, and that the ink is absorbed such that theink that has not been absorbed by the pixel flows onto the next pixelinterconnected with the firstly stated pixel by the capillary tube.

Thus the bleeding may be represented more realistically by modeling theink flow by assuming that the ink flows through the capillary tubeinterconnecting the pixels and is absorbed in the pixel to which flowsthe ink, with the ink absorbed in the different pixels producing thebleeding.

(5-1-2) Ink Quantity Held in the Fiber Interstices

Referring to the drawings, the quantity of the ink held in the fiberinterstices is explained. In the following description, the ink quantityheld in the fiber interstices of a given pixel is calculated based uponthe assumption that the above-described ink flow model is followed andthe paper sheet is made up of plural fibers.

It is assumed that the fibers making up the paper sheet is of atwo-dimensional or planar structure and that the quantity of the inkheld in the fiber interstices in a given pixel is proportional to thearea occupied by the ink held in the fiber interstices of the pixel.

It is also assumed that there exist two fibers FI₁ and FI₂ intersectingeach other at an angle θ, as shown in FIG. 88. The surface measure ofthe area occupied by the ink held in the interstices between the fibersF1 and F2 is considered. The ink held in the interstices between thefibers FI₁ and FI₂ is captured in an area of intersection between thetwo fibers FI₁ and FI₂ as indicated by hatching in FIG. 88. The portionof the ink not contacted with the fibers is bent under the surfacetension of the ink.

Thus the area of the ink held in the interstices of the two fibers FI₁and FI₂ may be approximated by an area surrounded by the two fibers FI₁and FI₂ and two circles each with a radius R₁ inscribing the two fibersFI₁ and FI₂. The radius R₁ is a constant which depends upon the surfacetension of the ink.

If such approximation is used, the smaller the angle of intersection θbetween the two fibers FI₁ and FI₂, the larger becomes the area occupiedby the ink kept in the interstices between the two fibers FI₁ and FI₂.However, in effect, if the angle of intersection θ between the twofibers FI₁ and FI₂ is smaller than a pre-set value, the area occupied bythe ink held in the interstices of the fibers FI₁ and FI₂ becomessmaller. Thus an approximation is made that, if the angle ofintersection θ between the two fibers FI₁ and FI₂ is smaller than apre-set angle θ_(a), the area occupied by the ink held in theinterstices between the two fibers FI₁ and FI₂ becomes larger. If thearea occupied by the ink captured in the interstices between the twofibers FI₁ and FI₂ is approximated as described above, the surfacemeasure of an area s(θ) occupied by the ink captured in the intersticesbetween the two fibers FI₁ and FI₂ is given as a function of the angle 8by the equations (5-1) and (5-2):

    s(θ)=2×R.sup.2 ×{cos (θ/2)/sin (θ/2)+(θ-π)/2}(for θ≧.sub.a)  (5-1)

    s(θ)=2×R.sup.2 ×{cos (θ.sub.a /2)/sin (θ.sub.a /2)+(θ.sub.a -π)/2}/θ(for θ<θ.sub.a)                                    (5-2)

If there exist n fibers FI₁, FI₂, . . . , FI_(n-1), FI_(n) in a pixel P,as shown in FIG. 90. The surface measure of the area occupied by the inkcaptured in the interstices between the n fibers FI₁, FI₂, . . . ,FI_(n-1), FI_(n) in the pixel P is found in the following manner. It isassumed that the angles of the n fibers FI₁, FI₂, . . . , FI_(n-1),FI_(n) are θ_(i), where i is 1, 2, 3, . . . , n-1, with the fiber FI₁ asa reference, and the angles of intersection of the neighboring fibersare Δθ_(i), where i is 1, 2, 3, . . . , n-1, as shown for example inFIG. 90. Then, using the function s(θ) as found by the equations (5-1)and (5-2), the area q(n) occupied by the ink captured in the intersticesbetween the n fibers FI₁, FI₂, . . . , FI_(n-1), FI_(n) in the pixel Pis found as the function of s(θ) by the following equation (5-3):##EQU5##

Thus the quantity U of the ink absorbed in the pixel having n fibers isgiven by the equation (5-4) ##EQU6## where α is a proportionalityconstant of the quantity of ink absorption U and the surface measureq(n) of the area occupied by the ink.

That is, if the quantity of ink absorption U in the pixel is found, itis possible to find the number n of the fibers in the pixel and theangles of intersection Δθ_(i) between the neighboring fibers.

(5-1-3) Thickness of Ink Captured in Fiber Interstices

Referring to the drawings, the concentration (thickness) of the inkcaptured in the fiber interstices is explained. In the followingexplanation, the shape of a capillary tube MO is assumed to be acylinder through the inside of which the ink flows. The ink flowingdirection through the cylinder of the capillary tube MO is indicated asx, the radial direction in the capillary tube MO with the center of thecapillary tube MO as an origin is r and the time is t. The radius of thecapillary tube MO is r₀.

The ink is a dispersion of ink particles in a solvent, such as water,with the ink thickness being set by the number of ink particles. If theink flows through the inside of the capillary tube, the ink particlesbecome depleted towards the distal end of the flow. That is, when theink flows through the inside of the capillary tube, the ink flow becomethinner towards its distal. For calculating the ink thickness whichundergoes fluctuations within the capillary tube, it is sufficient ifdiffusion of the ink particles in the capillary tube is considered.

If the number of diffused ink particles at time t and a position (x, r)is represented by n(x, r, t), the velocity of the ink flowing in thedirection x is v(r) and a constant representing the degree of diffusionin-the direction r of the ink particles is D₀. the diffusion of the inkparticles in the capillary tube may be represented by the followingpartial differential equation: ##EQU7## In the above equation, the inkvelocity v(r) is not dependent upon the position in the direction x butis dependent only upon the position in the r direction, such that theink velocity is faster and slower towards the center and in the vicinityof the wall surface of the capillary tube, respectively. If the velocityat a position of r=0 is vmax, the ink velocity v(r) may be representedby, for example, the following equation (5-6):

    v(r)=vmax×{1-(r/r.sub.0).sup.2 }                     (5-6)

The partial differential equation (5-5) may be converted into thefollowing difference equation (5-7), with a minor variant of t, x and rbeing Δt, Δx and Δr: ##EQU8##

In the equation (5-7), the left side denotes the number of ink particlesat time t+Δt and at a position (x, r). The first term, second term,third term, fourth term, fifth term and the sixth term of the right sidedenote the number of ink particles at time t and at a position (x, r),the number of ink particles at time t and at the position (x, r) whichflow out at time t+Δt in the direction x from the position (x, r), thenumber of ink particles at time t and at the position (x-Δx, r) whichflow out at time t+Δt towards the position (x, r), the number of inkparticles at time t and at the position (x, r+Δr) which are diffused attime t+Δt towards the position (x, r), and the number of ink particlesat time t and at the position (x, r) which are diffused at time t+Δtfrom the position (x, r) in the direction r, respectively.

If initial conditions are set for the equation (5-7), the numbers ofparticles n(x, r, t) at time t and at a position (x, r) may be foundsequentially. In sequentially calculating the number of ink particlesn(x, r, t), it may be assumed that n(x, r₀, 0)=0 since the ink particlesreaching the wall surface of the capillary tube may be presumed tobecome affixed to the wall surface of the capillary tube withoutbecoming diffused any further.

The initial conditions for solving the equation (5-7) may be set sothat, when the ink starts to flow out, that is at t=0, the ink particlesare present only at the position x=0 and are uniformly diffused in the rdirection. That is, n(x, r, 0)=0 for x>0 and n(0, r, 0)=n₀ where n₀ is aconstant.

It is noted that the sum of the ink particles in the r direction at thetime t and the position x may be represented by the sum of the number ofink particles R(x, t) flowing at time t and position x and the number ofthe ink particles which have become affixed to the wall surface of thecapillary tube at time t and position x, as shown by the equation (5-8):

    V(x,t)=R(x,y)+Q(x,t)                                       (5-8)

Thus the number of the ink particles R(x, t) flowing at time t andposition x may be calculated based upon n(x, r, t), as shown by theequation (5-9): ##EQU9##

On the other hand, the number of ink particles Q (x, t) which havebecome affixed to the wall surface of the capillary tube at time t andposition x may be calculated based upon n(x, r, t) and is given by theequation (5-10): ##EQU10##

By the above calculations, it is possible to find the sum V(x, t) in ther direction of the numbers of ink particles at time t and position x.The ink thickness at time t and position x is proportionate to V(x, t).Thus the ink thickness at time t and position x may be represented bymultiplying V(x, t) with a suitable coefficient.

(5-2) Stricture of Bed Figure Drawing Processor

An illustrative structure of the bled figure drawing processor 50 forforming picture data of the bled figure is explained.

Referring to FIG. 92, the bled figure drawing processor 50 includes acontour pixel detection unit 51 for detecting the pixel P on the contourof a figure yet to be bled, and an initial ink quantity setting unit 52for pre-setting an initial ink quantity U₀ on the pixel P detected bythe contour pixel detection unit 51. The bled figure drawing processor50 also includes an initial in density setting unit 53 for pre-settingan initial ink thickness V₀ as picture data on the pixel P on the figurecontour, and a linking pixel detection unit 54 for detecting the pixelslinked to the pixel P by the capillary tube based upon the number ofcapillary tubes S_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) of the paper fiberstructure data previously formed by the paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30 for the pixel P detected by the contour pixeldetection unit 51. The bled figure drawing processor 50 also includes apicture data setting unit 55 for setting data specifying the inkpresence for the pixel detected by the linking pixel detection unit 54as picture data and a controller 56 for controlling the repetition ofthe operation of the coupling pixel detection unit 54 and the picturedata setting unit 55. The figure yet to be bled is e.g., a figurerepresented by picture data formed by the blurred figure drawingprocessor 40. That is, the bled figure drawing processor 50 reads outpicture data formed by the blurred figure drawing processor 40 andtemporarily stored in the memory 3 for performing bled figure drawingprocessing on the read-out picture data.

Specifically, picture data of a figure to be bled is read from e.g., theinput device 1, memory 3 and the external storage device 4 so as to berouted to the on-condor pixel detection unit 51 of the bled figuredrawing processor 50.

The contour pixel detection unit 51 detects the pixel P on the contourof the figure based upon picture data of the figure yet to be bled. Ifthere are plural pixels on the contour of the figure, the contour pixeldetection unit 51 sequentially detects these pixels. Meanwhile, suchpicture data of the figure to be bled suffices which permits detectionof the contour pixels. That is, the picture data may be such picturedata consisting only of the contour information, such as picture dataspecifying the contour of a stroke of a character or a symbol based upona font formed by the font forming processor 20.

The initial ink quantity setting unit 52 sets the initial ink quantityU₀ as picture data for the pixel P detected by the contour pixeldetection unit 51. Similarly, the initial ink density setting unit 53sets the initial ink density V₀ as picture data for the pixel P detectedby the contour pixel detection unit 51. The values of the initial inkquantity U₀ or the initial ink density V₀ may be pre-set values,pre-stored in the external storage device 4 or input values from theinput device 1. It is also possible for the information of the initialink quantity U₀ or the initial ink density V₀ to be included in advancein picture data of a figure yet to be bled, while it is similarlypossible for the initial ink quantity U₀ and the initial ink density V₀to be set by the initial ink quantity U₀ or the initial ink densitysetting unit 53 based upon this information. Alternatively, the initialink quantity U₀ or the initial ink density V₀ may be pre-set in picturedata of the figure yet to be bled without employing the initial inkquantity setting unit 52 or the initial ink density setting unit 52.

The pixel P, which has been detected in this manner by the contour pixeldetection unit 51 and which has the initial ink quantity V₀ and theinitial ink quantity V₀ thus set, is supplied from the contour pixeldetection unit 51 to the linking pixel detection unit 54.

The linking pixel detection unit 54 detects pixels connected by thecapillary tube to the pixel P detected by the contour pixel detectionunit 51 based upon the number of capillary tubes S_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8) associated with the pixel. Specifically, the number S_(i) ofthe capillary tubes is data included in the paper fiber structure dataformed by the paper fiber structure data forming unit 30 andspecifically is an integer not less than 0.

If the number S_(i) of the capillary tubes of the pixel P is not lessthan 1, the linking pixel detection unit 54 detects the pixels P_(i)corresponding to the number S_(i) of the capillary tubes as the pixelslinked to the pixel P. Specifically, if the numbers of the capillarytubes S₁, S₃, S₅ of the pixel P associated with directions of the pixelsP₁, P₃ and P₅ neighboring to the pixel P are 1 and the numbers of thecapillary tubes S₂, S₄, S₆, S₇ and S₈ of the pixel P associated withdirections of the pixels P₂, P₄, P₆, P₇ and P₈ neighboring to the pixelP are 0, the linking pixel detection unit 54 detects the pixels P₁, P₃and P₅ as pixels connected by the capillary tubes, as shown in FIG. 93.

Alternatively, if the numbers of the capillary tubes S_(i) of the pixelP ares not less than 1 and the numbers of the capillary tubes S_(j)(j=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) of the pixels P₁ corresponding to the numbersS_(i) are not less than 1, the linking pixel detection unit 54 detectsthe pixel P_(i) as the pixel linked to the pixel P. Specifically, if thenumbers of the capillary tubes S₁, S₃, S₅ of the pixel P associated withdirections of the pixels P₁, P₃ and P₅ neighboring to the pixel P are 1,the numbers of the capillary tubes S₂, S₃, S₆, S₇ and S₈ of the pixel Passociated with directions of the pixels P₂, P₄, P₆, P₇ and P₈neighboring to the pixel P are 0, the number S₅ of the capillary tubesof the pixel P₁ corresponding to the direction of the pixel P is 1, thenumber S₇ of the capillary tubes of the pixel P₃ corresponding to thedirection of the pixel P is 1, and the number S₁ of the capillary tubesof the pixel P₅ corresponding to the direction of the pixel P is 0, thelinking pixel detection unit 54 detects the pixels P₁ and P₃ as pixelsconnected to the pixel P by the capillary tubes, as shown in FIG. 94.

The pixels connected to the pixel P by the capillary tubes, thusdetected by the linking pixel detection unit 54, are routed from thelinking pixel detection unit 54 to the picture data setting unit 55.

The picture data setting unit 55 sets data indicating the presence ofthe ink for the pixels linked to the pixel P by the capillary tube. Ifthe initial ink quantity U₀ set on the pixel P is not more than 0, thepicture data setting unit 55 assumes that there is no ink diffused fromthe pixel P and terminates the bled figure drawing processing for thepixel P without setting data indicating the presence of the ink for thepixel connected to the pixel P by the capillary tube.

In addition, the picture data setting unit 55 calculates, for each pixelfor which the data indicating the presence of the ink is set, thequantity U of ink absorbed by the pixel, and sets the quantity U aspicture data. If the quantity Q of the absorbed ink exceeds 0, the inkmay be assumed to be present, the quantity Q of ink absorption beingthen simultaneously used for setting the ink presence specifying data.The quantity U of the absorbed ink may be found, as explained inconnection with the modelling of the bleeding phenomenon, in accordancewith the equation (5-11): ##EQU11## where, if θ≧θ, ##EQU12## and, ifθ<θ_(a), ##EQU13##

In the equation (5-11), n stands for the number of fibers M of the pixelwhich may be obtained by referring to the paper fiber structure data.The angle Δθ_(i) is the angle of intersection between two neighboringfibers, that is between the i'th fiber and the (i+1)st fiber neighboringthereto, and is set at random in the picture data setting unit 55 withina range of 0≦Δθ_(i) ≦π so that the value of (. Δθ₁ +Δθ₂ +. . .+Δθ_(n-1)) will be not larger than π. The value of R, which is aconstant derived from the surface tension of the ink, may be pre-set orentered by the input device 1 so as to be freely set by the user. Thevalue of α, an optionally set proportionality constant, becomes largeror smaller if the absorbed ink quantity is larger or smaller,respectively. On the other hand, θ_(a) is a constant employed in amethod for calculating the quantity of ink captured in the fiberinterstices and may, for example, be π/4.

The value of U(n) is previously calculated for n being an integer notless than 0, in accordance with the equation (5-11), and is previouslyset as a one-dimensional array of n. When calculating the absorbed inkquantity U, the picture data setting unit 55 refers to this pre-setone-dimensional array in order to find the value of the absorbed inkquantity U corresponding to the number M of the fibers of the pixel.This significantly reduces the processing time since there is no longerthe necessity of calculating the absorbed ink quantity U in accordancewith the equation (5-11) each time the absorbed ink quantity U is set.

The absorbed ink quantity U, calculated in accordance with the equation(5-11), is the maximum ink quantity absorbed by the pixel, that is themaximum absorbed ink quantity Umax. If the quantity of the ink flowingto the pixel is smaller than this maximum absorbed ink quantity Umax,the picture data setting unit 55 naturally sets the quantity of the inkflowing to the pixel, that is the ink quantity smaller than the maximumabsorbed ink quantity Umax, in the picture data as the absorbed inkquantity U.

The picture data setting unit 55 also calculates, for each pixel forwhich the ink presence indicating data has been set, the ink density Vin the pixel, and sets the ink density V as the picture data. The inkdensity V is found in accordance with the equation (5-12):

    V=V.sub.0 ×V(x,t)                                    (5-12)

by calculating the number of ink particles V(x, t) at the time t and ata position x based upon the simulated bleeding phenomenon describedabove.

In the above equation, V₀ is the initial ink density set for the pixelon the contour of a figure yet to be bled, and x stands for the lengthof a capillary tube through which the ink flows before reaching thepixel from the figure contour, specifically, the number of a series ofpixels interconnected by the capillary tubes and sequentially detectedby the linking pixel detection unit 54. On the other hand, t stands forthe time elapsed until the ink reaches the pixel from the figurecontour, specifically, the number of times of processing operationsperformed by the linking pixel detection unit 54 and the picture datasetting unit 55.

Also, in the above equation, V(x, t) is pre-set as a two-dimensionalarray of x and t based upon calculation of the equations (5-8) to (5-10)for the case of x and t being integers not less than 0. When finding theink density V, the picture data setting unit 55 performs thecalculations of the equation (5-12) in order to find the value of theink density V by having reference to the value of V(x, t) among thepre-set two-dimensional array V(x, t) corresponding to the number oftimes of repetition of the operations of the linking pixel detectionunit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55 until finding the number ofa series of pixels interconnected by the capillary tubes andsequentially detected by the linking pixel detection unit 54 and the inkdensity V of the pixels. This significantly reduces the processing timesince there is no longer the necessity of calculating V(x, t) inaccordance with the equations (5-8) to (5-10) each time the ink densityV is set.

The picture data setting unit 55 multiplies the absorbed ink quantity Uwith the ink density V thus found to find the luminance I of the pixelwhich is also set as picture data.

The bled figure drawing processor 50 routes the pixel, for which picturedata have been set in the picture data setting unit 55, to the linkingpixel detection unit 54 as the pixel P detected by the contour pixeldetection unit 51 and iterates the operations of the linking pixeldetection unit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55 for sequentiallysetting picture data simulating the gradual spreading apart of inkduring bleeding.

During iteration of the operations of the linking pixel detection unit54 and the picture data setting unit 55, new picture data are not setfor a pixel for which picture data have already been set based upon theassumption that no new ink flows to the pixel to which the ink flewpreviously. That is, no picture data is set by the picture data settingunit 55 for the pixel within an area occupied by the figure yet to bebled or the pixel for which picture data have already been set in thepicture data setting unit 55.

The iteration of the operations by the linking pixel detection unit 54and the picture data setting unit 55 is controlled by the controller 56.

That is, the controller 56 controls the iteration of the operations ofthe linking pixel detection unit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55based upon the assumption that bleeding comes to a close when thequantity of the ink diffused by bleeding has reached the initial inkquantity U₀ which is the quantity of the ink responsible for bleeding.

Specifically, the controller 56 manages control so that the absorbed inkquantities U, calculated by the picture data setting unit 55, are summedfor all pixels detected by the linking pixel detection unit 54, and theiterative operations by the linking pixel detection unit 54 and thepicture data setting unit 55 is terminated when the sum value reachesthe initial ink quantity U₀.

Alternatively, the controller 56 manages control so that the absorbedink quantities U, calculated by the picture data setting unit 55, issequentially subtracted from the initial ink quantity U₀ set by theinitial ink setting unit 52 for each pixel detected by the linking pixeldetection unit 54, in order to find sequentially the residual inkquantity U_(rest), this new ink residual quantity U_(rest) is set as thenew initial ink quantity U₀ in the pixel P detected by the contour pixelsetting unit 51, and the iterative operation of the linking pixeldetection unit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55 is terminatedwhen the new initial ink quantity U₀ becomes not larger than 0.

If the initial ink quantity U₀ differs between two neighboring pixelsdetected by the contour pixel detection unit 51, the controller 56controls the iterative operation of the linking pixel detection unit 54and the picture data setting unit 55 after decreasing, for example, theinitial ink quantity U₀ of the pixel with the larger initial inkquantity U₀ and increasing the initial ink quantity U₀ of the pixel withthe smaller initial ink quantity U₀ for taking into account the ink flowon the contour of the figure yet to be bled. Since the ink flows onlygradually with lapse of time, the operation of decreasing or increasingthe initial ink quantity U₀ by the controller 56 as described above isto be carried out gradually at the time of the iterative operation bylinking pixel detection unit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55.

In the above-described embodiment, the setting of the ink density V andthe luminance I by the picture data setting unit is carried out on theoccasion of the iterative operations by the linking pixel detection unit54 and the picture data setting unit 55. If, however, only the bledfigure is displayed on the display device 5, it suffices if the inkdensity V and the luminance I on termination of ink diffusion bybleeding is known, so that it suffices to set the ink density V and theluminance I at the time of the last iterative operation by the linkingpixel detection unit 54 and the picture data setting unit 55.

If only the bled figure is displayed on the display device 5, therouting of picture data from the picture data setting unit 55 to thedisplay device 5 is performed on termination of the iteration of theoperation of the linking pixel detection unit 54 and the picture datasetting unit 55, that is after the end of formation of picture data bythe bled figure drawing processor 50. However, if the manner ofspreading apart of ink during bleeding from the figure yet to be bled issequentially displayed on the display device 5, the picture data settingunit 55 sends the picture data to the display device 5 each time theoperation of the linking pixel detection unit 54 and the picture datasetting unit 55 is iterated, that is each time picture data is set inthe picture data setting unit 5. That is, the picture data setting unit55 routes the data of luminance I to the display device 5 for eachiteration of the operations of the linking pixel detection unit 54 andthe picture data setting unit 55 for sequentially displaying the figurederived from the luminance I on the display device 5. Thus the manner ofgradual spreading apart of ink during bleeding from the figure yet to bebled may be sequentially displayed on the display device 5.

(5-3) Bled Figure Drawing processing

An illustrative operation of the bled figure drawing processor 50 is nowexplained. In the following description, the terms used in bled figuredrawing and data used in the bled figure drawing processing are firstexplained and the operation of the bled figure drawing processor 50 isthen explained by referring to a flowchart illustrating the operation.

(5-3-1) Terms Used in Bled Figure Drawing processing

In the following description, the pixels corresponding to the contour ofa figure are termed "contour pixels". Bleeding is produced by diffusionof the ink from the contour pixels via the pixels interconnected by thecapillary tubes. Among the contour pixels, the contour pixel from whichoriginates the bleeding to a pixel A₁ lying on the downstream side alongthe path of ink diffusion, that is the contour pixel reached when theink flow is followed retrogressively from the pixel A₁, is termed "thecontour pixel from which originates the bleeding towards the pixel A₁ ",or "bleeding originating pixel with respect to the pixel P".

If, during bled figure drawing processing, two or more downstream sidepixels interconnected by the capillary tubes with the pixel A₁ arefound, the pixel A₁ is termed a "branching point pixel". Specifically,if two pixels B₁, C₁, on the downstream side of the pixel A₁ aredetected as the pixels interconnected by the capillary tubes, the pixelA₁ is termed the branching point pixel.

If the ink flows to the pixel A₁, the branching point pixel which isreached when the ink flow path is followed retrogressively from thepixel A₁ and from which the ink flows in a direction other than thedirection towards the pixel A₁, is termed "the ink flow branching pointpixel with respect to the pixel A₁ ". A series of pixels interconnectedby the capillary tubes and lying on an ink path from the pixel A₁ to theink branching point pixel with respect to the pixel A₁, are termed "aseries of pixels from the pixel A₁ t the ink flow branching pointpixel". If, when the ink flow path is retrogressively followed from thepixel A₁, there exists no ink flow branching point pixel with respect tothe pixel A₁, a series of pixels from the pixel A₁ to the bleedingoriginating contour pixel, interconnected by the capillary tube, aretermed "a series of pixels from the pixel A₁ to the ink flow branchingpoint pixel".

Thus, if there exist a series of pixels A₁, A₂ and A₃ interconnected bya capillary tube, and a series of pixels C₁, C₂ and C₃ interconnected bythe capillary tube, the pixel A₃ is connected to the pixel C₃ by acapillary tube and the ink flows within the series of the pixels C₁ toC₅ interconnected by the capillary tube, as shown in FIG. 96, the pixelC₃ is the ink flow branching point pixel with respect to the ink flowbranching point pixel, while the pixels A₁, A₂ and A₃ are the series ofpixels from the pixel A, to the ink flow branching point pixel.

If there exist a series of pixels Al₁, A₂ and A₃ interconnected by acapillary tube, a series of pixels C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄ and C₅ interconnectedby a capillary tube, and a series of pixels D₁, D₂, D₃, D₄ and D₅interconnected by a capillary tube, the pixel A₃ is connected to thepixel C₃ by a capillary tube, the pixel C₅ is connected to the pixel D₃by a capillary tube, the ink flow in the pixels C₁ and C₂ ceases and theink flows within the series of the pixels D₁ to D₅ interconnected by thecapillary tube, as shown in FIG. 97, the pixel D₃ is the ink flowbranching point pixel with respect to the pixel A₁, while the pixels A₁,A₂, A₃, C₃, C₄ and C₅ are the series of pixels from the pixel A₁ to theink flow branching point pixel.

Also, if there exist a series of pixels A₁, A₂ and A₃ interconnected bya capillary tube, a series of pixels C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄ and C₅interconnected by the capillary tube and a bleeding originating contourpixel D, the pixel A₃ is connected to the pixel C₃ by a capillary tubeand the pixel C₅ is connected to the bleeding originating contour pixelD by a capillary tube, with the ink not flowing through the pixels C₁and C₂, as shown in FIG. 98, the pixels A₁, A₂, A₃, C₃, C₄ and C₅ arethe series of pixels from the pixel A₁ to the ink flow branching pointpixel.

(5-3-2) Data-Employed in Bled Figure Drawing Processing

In the following description, an area for drawing a bled figure is aplanar area consisting of plural pixels P, as shown in FIG. 99. Thepaper fiber structure data employed has at least a number M of fibersand a number of capillary tubes S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆, S₇ and S₈, inassociation with respective pixels, as shown in FIG. 100.

The bleeding processing by the bled figure drawing processor 50 employsa number of times of processing flag for recording the number of timesof processing, contour data set for correspondence to pixels on acontour of a figure (contour pixels) yet to be bled, current data set inassociation with respective pixels positioned at the forefront ofbleeding diffusion at a given time point, next data set in associationwith respective pixels positioned at the forefront of the bleedingdiffusion at a time point next to the time point when the current datais written, bled picture data set in association with respective pixelsconstituting an area for bled figure drawing and luminance data set inassociation with respective pixels constituting an area for drawing abled figure.

The contour data is made up of contour pixel coordinate values, aninitial ink quantity U₀ of each contour pixel and an initial ink densityV₀ for the contour ink, as shown for example in FIG. 101. Each contourdata has a contour data number.

The current data has a coordinate value of a pixel A at the forefrontportion of bleeding diffusion at a given time point, referred tohereinafter as the current leading coordinate value, a coordinate valueof a pixel neighboring to the pixel A and operating as an inkoriginating pixel for the pixel A, referred to hereinafter as thecurrent bleeding originating coordinate value, a contour data number forthe contour data for the bleeding originating contour pixel for thepixel A, and the status specifying the ink status in the pixel A, asshown for example in FIG. 102. Each current data has the current datanumber. Since the current data is the data for a pixel positioned at theforemost portion of bleeding diffusion at a given time point, thecurrent data is sequentially rewritten with progress in the bleedingdiffusion.

The next data has a coordinate value of a pixel B positioned at theforemost portion of the bleeding diffusion at a time point next to atime point when data is written in the current data, referred tohereinafter as the next leading coordinate value, a coordinate value ofa pixel neighboring to the pixel B and operating as an ink originatingpixel for the pixel B, referred to hereinafter as the next bleedingoriginating coordinate value, a contour data number for the contour datafor the bleeding originating contour pixel for the pixel B. and thestatus specifying the ink status in the pixel B, as shown for example inFIG. 103. Each next data has the next data number. Since the next datais the data for a pixel positioned at the foremost portion of bleedingdiffusion at a time point next to the time point when data is written atthe current data, the current data is sequentially rewritten withprogress in the bleeding diffusion.

Similarly to the paper fiber structure data, the bleeding picture datais associated with each pixel constituting an area for writing a bledfigure. The bleeding picture data for a given pixel P has a statusspecifying the ink status at the pixel P, the number of steps specifyingthe number of times of processing required since the start of bleedingdiffusion until inflow of the ink to the pixel P, the number of stepsfor ink flow stop specifying the number of times of processing requiredsince the start of bleeding diffusion until the stop of the ink flow tothe pixel P, a coordinate value of a pixel neighboring to the pixel Pand operating as an ink flow originating pixel for the pixel P, referredto hereinafter as a bleeding originating coordinate value, a contourdata number of contour data associated with the bleeding originatingcontour pixel for the pixel P, an absorbed ink quantity U specifying thequantity of the ink absorbed by the pixel P, and an ink density Vspecifying int density at the pixel P, as shown for example in FIG. 104.

In the statuses of the current data, next data and the bled picturedata, "no ink" specifying the ink absent state as an initial value,"originating" specifying that the pixel P corresponds to a bleedingoriginating pixel, "flowing" specifying that the ink is flowing to andflowing through the pixel P, and "stop" specifying that the flow to thepixel has ceased, are set.

Similarly to the paper fiber structure data, luminance data correspondsto the pixels constituting an area for drawing a bled figure. Theluminance picture data for the pixel P has luminance for the pixel P, asshown for example in FIG. 105.

(5-3-3) Operation of Bled Figure Drawing processor

An illustrative operation of the bed figure drawing processor 50 is nowexplained by referring to the flowchart of FIGS. 106 to 110.

First, at step ST5-1, picture data of a figure to be bled, for example,picture data formed by the blurred figure drawing processor 40, is readfrom, for example, the memory 3 or the external storage device 4. Thecontour pixel detection unit 51 sets the status of bled picture datacorresponding to all pixels on the figure to be bled to "originating"based upon picture data of the figure to be bled. The processing thentransfers to step ST5-2.

At step ST5-2, the contour pixel detection unit 51 judges whether or notthere exists any contour pixel not processed by steps ST5-3 to 5-5. Ifthere is any such pixel (YES), processing transfers to step ST5-3 and,if otherwise (NO), processing transfers to step ST5-56.

At step ST5-3, the contour pixel detection unit 51 detects a contourpixel not processed by steps ST5-3 to 5-5, and forms contour data forthe contour pixel. The contour pixel detection unit 51 affixes a contourdata number to each contour data, while forming contour data using thecoordinate values of the contour pixels as the contour coordinatevalues.

At step ST5-4, the initial ink quantity setting unit 52 sets an initialink quantity U₀ in the contour data formed at step ST5-3.

At step ST5-5, the initial ink density setting unit 53 sets an initialink density V₀ in the contour data formed at step ST5-3. After stepST5-5, the processing reverts to step ST5-2 to repeat the processing.

By repetition of the steps ST5-2 to ST5-5, contour data corresponding tothe contour pixels is formed with a unique contour data number beingaffixed to each contour data. These contour data may be pre-set inpicture data of the figure to be bled such that the bled figureprocessor 50 simply reads the pre-set contour data without performingthe processing by the steps ST5-2 to ST5-5.

At step ST55-6, the controller 56 sets the value of the number of timesof processing flag f to 0.

At step ST5-7, the linking pixel detection unit 54 judges whether or notthere is any contour data not processed by steps ST5-8 to ST5-10. Ifthere is any such pixel (YES), the processing transfers to step ST5-8and, if otherwise (NO), the processing transfers to step ST5-11 shown inFIG. 107.

At step ST5-8, the linking pixel detection unit 54 detects a contourdata not processed by steps ST5-9 to ST5-10. The contour data detectedby this step ST5-8 is referred to hereinafter as "contour data to beprocessed", while the pixel corresponding to the contour data to beprocessed is referred to as "contour pixel to be processed". Theprocessing then transfers to step ST5-9.

At step ST5-9, the linking pixel detection unit 54 refers to the paperfiber structure data in order to detect a pixel interconnected to thecontour pixel to be processed by a capillary tube. The pixels to bedetected are pixels neighboring to the contour pixel being processed,with the number of the detected pixels being 0 to 8. The pixels forwhich the bleeding data has the status "originating", that is pixels onor inside of the contour of the figure yet to be bled, are not detected.The number of pixels to be detected is eight when there is only onecontour pixel. Usually, the number of pixels to be detected is 0 to 7.

At step ST5-10, the linking pixel detection unit 54 forms current dataassociated with the pixel detected at step ST5-9. Specifically, thelinking pixel detection unit 54 forms the current data, with the currentdata number affixed thereto, so that the status is "flowing", thecoordinate value of a pixel detected at step ST5-9 is a leadingcoordinate value, the coordinate value of a contour pixel of contourdata to be processed is an ink flow originating coordinate value and thecontour data number affixed to the contour data to be processed is thecontour data number. Since the number of the pixels detected at stepST5-9 is 0 to 8, the number of current data formed at step ST5-10 is notlimited to 1 but ranges from 0 to 8. The number of pixels detected bystep ST5-10 is likely to become eight when there is only one contourdata. The number of the current data formed at step ST5-10 is usually 0to 7. After step ST5-10, the processing reverts to step ST5-7 in orderto repeat the processing.

By repetition of the steps ST5-7 to ST5-10, the initial current data isformed with a unique current data number being affixed to each currentdata.

At step ST5-11, shown in FIG. 107, the controller 56 increments thevalue of the number of times of processing flag f by 1.

At step ST5-12, the picture data setting unit 55 judges whether or notthere is any current data not processed by steps ST5-13 to ST5-27. Ifthere is any such current data (YES), the processing transfers to stepST5-13 and, if otherwise (NO), the processing transfers to step ST5-24shown in FIG. 108.

At step ST5-13, the picture data setting unit 55 detects a contour datanot processed by steps ST5-14 to ST5-27. The current data detected bythis step ST5-13 is referred to hereinafter as "current data to beprocessed", while the pixel corresponding to the current data to beprocessed is referred to as "current pixel to be processed". Theprocessing then transfers to step ST5-14.

At step ST5-14, the picture data setting unit 55 calculates the maximumabsorbed ink quantity Umax of the current pixel to be processed. Theprocessing then transfers to step ST5-15.

At step ST5-15, the picture data setting unit 55 judges, based upon themaximum absorbed ink quantity Umax, calculated at step ST5-14, theabsorbed ink quantity U set in the bled picture data corresponding tothe current pixel to be processed, and the initial ink quantity U₀ ofthe contour data corresponding to the contour data number of the currentdata to be processed, whether the ink flows in a quantity exceeding theink quantity absorbable by the pixel or in a quantity not exceeding theink quantity absorbable by the pixel. Thus the picture data setting unit55 transfers to step ST5-16 and to step ST5-22 for (Umax-U)<U₀ and for(Umax-U9)≧U₀, respectively. If the absorbed ink quantity U is not set inthe bled picture data corresponding to the current pixels to beprocessed, the value of the absorbed ink quantity U is set to 0.

At step ST5-16, the picture data setting unit 55 refers to the status ofthe current data to be processed. If the status of the current data tobe processed is "flowing", the processing transfers to step ST5-17 and,if the status of the current data to be processed is "stop", theprocessing transfers to step ST5-19.

At step ST5-17, the picture data setting unit 55 sets bled picture datacorresponding to the current pixel to be processed. Specifically, thepicture data setting unit 55 sets the bled picture data by setting thestatus, the value of the flag f, the ink flow originating coordinatevalue of the current data to be processed, the contour data number ofthe current data to be processed, and the maximum absorbed ink quantityUmax calculated at step ST5-14 less the current absorbed ink quantity ofthe bled picture data U (Umax-U) to "flowing", the number of steps, theink flow originating coordinate value, contour data number and to a newabsorbed ink quantity U, respectively.

Then, at step ST5-18, the controller 56 sets the current initial inkquantity U₀ of the contour data corresponding to the contour data numberof the current data to be processed less a value obtained on subtractingthe current absorbed ink quantity U of the bled picture data from themaximum absorbed ink quantity Umax calculated by step ST5-14 (Umax-U),or (U₀ -Umax+U), as the new initial ink quantity U₀ of contour datacorresponding to the contour data number of the current data to beprocessed. After step ST5-18, processing reverts to step ST5-12 torepeat the processing.

At step ST5-19, the picture data setting unit 55 sets bled picture datacorresponding to the current pixel to be processed. The picture datasetting unit 55 sets the status, the value of the flag f, the ink floworiginating coordinate value of the current data to be processed, thecontour data number of the current data to be processed, and sum of theinitial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data corresponding to the contourdata number of the current data to be processed and the current absorbedink quantity U of the bled picture data (U₀ +U), to "stop", the numberof steps, the ink flow originating coordinate value, the contour datanumber and a new absorbed ink quantity U, respectively.

At step ST5-20, as at step ST5-18, the controller 56 sets the currentinitial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data corresponding to the contourdata number of the current data to be processed less a value obtained onsubtracting the current absorbed ink quantity U of the bled picture datafrom the maximum absorbed ink quantity Umax calculated by step ST5-14(Umax-U), that is (U₀ -Umax+U), as the new initial ink quantity U₀ ofcontour data corresponding to the contour data number of the currentdata to be processed.

At step ST5-21, the picture data setting unit 55 sets the statuses ofall bled picture data corresponding to a set of pixels from the currentpixel to be processed to the ink flow branching point pixel to "stop",while setting the value of the flag f to the number of ink flow stopsteps. After step ST5-21, the processing reverts to step ST5-12 torepeat the processing.

At step ST5-22, the picture data setting unit 55 sets bled picture datacorresponding to the current pixel to be processed. The picture datasetting unit 55 sets the status, the value of the flag f, the ink floworiginating coordinate value of the current data to be processed, thecontour data number of the current data to be processed, and sum of theinitial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data corresponding to the contourdata number of the current data to be processed and the current absorbedink quantity U of the bled picture data (U₀ +U), to "flowing", thenumber of steps, the ink flow originating coordinate value, the contourdata number and a new absorbed ink quantity U, respectively.

At step ST5-23, the controller 56 sets the value of the initial inkquantity U₀ of the contour data corresponding to the contour data numberof the current data to be processed to 0. After step ST5-23, theprocessing reverts to step ST5-12 to repeat the processing.

By repetition of the steps ST5-12 to ST5-23, bled picture data are seton the pixels to which the ink flowed due to bleeding.

At step ST5-24, shown in FIG. 108, the controller 56 refers to the valueof the initial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data. If there is stillthe contour data exceeding the value of the initial ink quantity U₀(NO), the processing transfers to step ST5-25. If the value of theinitial ink quantity U₀ of all contour data is not more than 0 (YES),the processing transfers to step ST5-38 shown in FIG. 110.

At step ST5-25, the controller 56 diminishes fluctuations in the valueof the initial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data in order to take intoaccount the ink flow within the contour pixels. That is, if the value ofthe initial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data differs between twoneighboring contour pixels, the controller 56 manages control fordecreasing the value of the initial ink quantity U₀ of the contour datahaving a larger value of the initial ink quantity U₀ and for increasingthe value of the initial ink quantity U₀ of the contour data having asmaller value of the initial ink quantity U₀. In decreasing the initialink quantity U₀, the minimum value of the ink quantity U₀ is set to 0.

At step ST5-26, the linking pixel detection unit 54 judges whether thereis any current data not processed by steps ST5-27 to ST5-33. If there issuch current data (YES), the processing transfers to step ST5-27. Ifthere is no such current data (No), the processing transfers to stepST5-34 shown in FIG. 109.

At step ST5-27, the linking pixel detection unit 54 detects a currentdata not processed with steps ST5-28 to ST5-33. The processing thentransfers to step ST5-28.

At step ST5-28, the linking pixel detection unit 54 refers to the bledpicture data set in the pixel corresponding to the current data detectedat step ST5-27, in order to compare the absorbed ink quantity U of thebled picture data to the maximum absorbed ink quantity Umax in thepixel. If the ink can be further absorbed, that is if U<Umax, theprocessing transfers to step ST5-29. If the ink cannot be furtherabsorbed, that is if U=Umax, the processing transfers to step ST5-30.

At step ST5-29, the linking pixel detection unit 54 forms next databased upon the assumption that the pixel corresponding to the currentdata detected at step ST5-27 is at the forefront portion of the bleedingdiffusion. Specifically, the linking pixel detection unit 54 forms thenext data, with the next data number affixed thereto, by setting thestatus, the current coordinate value of the current data detected atstep ST5-27 and the current ink flow originating coordinate value of thecurrent data detected at step ST5-27 to "flowing", the next leadingcoordinate value of the next data, and to the next ink flow originatingcoordinate value for next data, respectively. After step ST5-29, theprocessing reverts to step ST5-26 to repeat the processing.

At step ST5-30, the linking pixel detection unit 54 refers to the paperfiber structure data in order to detect the pixel linked via thecapillary tube to the pixel corresponding to the current data detectedat step ST5-27. The processing the transfers to step ST5-31. The pixelsto be detected are seven pixels, specifically, the pixels neighboring tothe pixel corresponding to the current data detected by the step ST5-27,excepting the pixel from which the ink flow to the pixel underconsideration originated. The number of the pixels detected at stepST5-30 is 0 to 7. However, the pixels whose bled picture data has thestatus "originating", that is pixels on and inside of the contour of thefigure from which originates the bleeding, and the pixels whose bledpicture data has the status "flowing" or "stop", that is the pixels towhich the ink flowed previously, are excluded from detection.

At step ST5-31, the linking pixel detection unit 54 judges whether ornot the pixels have been detected at step ST5-30. If the pixels havebeen detected (YES), the processing transfers to step ST5-32. If thepixels have not been detected (NO), the processing transfers to stepST5-33.

At step ST5-32, the linking pixel detection unit 54 forms next data,corresponding to the pixel detected at step ST5-30, based upon theassumption that the ink flow is continuing. Specifically, the linkingpixel detection unit 54 forms the next data, with the next data numberaffixed thereto, by setting the status, the coordinate value of thepixel detected at step ST5-30, the current leading coordinate value ofthe current data detected at step ST5-27 and the contour data number ofthe current data detected at step ST5-27, to "flowing", next leadingcoordinate value, next ink flow originating coordinate value and to thecontour data number, respectively. Since 0 to 7 pixels are detected atstep ST5-30, the number of the next data to be formed at step ST5-32 isnot limited to 1, but may range from 0 to 7. After the step ST5-32, theprocessing reverts to step ST5-26 to repeat the processing.

At step ST5-33, the linking pixel detection unit 54 forms next databased on the assumption that the ink flow has ceased. Specifically, thelinking pixel detection unit 54 forms the next data, with the next datanumber affixed thereto, by setting the status, the coordinate value ofthe current data detected at step ST5-27, the current ink floworiginating coordinate value of the current data detected at step ST5-27and the contour data number of the current data detected at step ST5-27,to "stop", next leading coordinate value, next ink flow originatingcoordinate value and to the contour data number, respectively. After thestep ST5-33, the processing reverts to step ST5-26 to repeat theprocessing.

By the repetition of the steps ST5-26 to 5-33, the next data, which isdata concerning the pixel positioned at the forefront of bleedingdiffusion at a time point next following a time point when data iswritten in the current data, is formed, with the next data number properto each next data affixed thereto.

At step ST5-34, shown in FIG. 109, the linking pixel detection unit 54judges whether or not there is the next data. The presence or absence ofthe next data specifies the continuation and end of the bleedingdiffusion, respectively. If there is the next data (YES), the processingtransfers to step ST5-35 and, if otherwise (NO), the processingtransfers to step ST5-38.

At steps ST5-35 to ST5-37, the linking pixel detection unit 54 copiesnext data in the current data to update the forefront portion of thebleeding diffusion. That is, at step ST5-35, the linking pixel detectionunit 54 erases al current data. Then, at step ST5-36, the linking pixeldetection unit 54 directly copies all current next data in the currentdata. At step ST5-37, the linking pixel detection unit 54 erases allcurrent next data. After step ST5-37, the linking pixel detection unit54 transfers to step ST5-11 to repeat the setting of the bled picturedata.

On the other hand, at step ST5-38, the picture data setting unit 55 setsthe bled picture data based on the assumption that the bleedingdiffusion has ceased. That is, the picture data setting unit 55 sets thestatus of the bled picture data, whose status is previously set to"flowing", to "stop", while setting the number of ink flow stop steps tothe value of the flag f.

Then, at step ST5-39, the picture data setting unit 55 calculates theink density V of a pixel to which flowed the ink, that is a pixel whosebled picture data has the status "stop", based upon the number of inkflow stop steps and the number of steps of the bled picture data of thepixel, and sets the calculated value of the ink density as the inkdensity V of the bled picture data. Specifically, the picture datasetting unit 55 previously calculates the ink density V(x, t) for x andt being an integer of not less than 0, for setting as a two-dimensionalarray of x and t, in accordance with the equations (5-8) to (5-10). Thepicture data setting unit 55 refers to the ink density V(x, t) thus setas the two-dimensional array in order to find the ink density V. Thatis, the picture data setting unit 55 refers to the ink density V(x, t)set as a two-dimensional array, with the number of steps and the numberof steps of ink flow stop being x and t, respectively, for finding theink density at each pixel.

At step ST5-40, the picture data setting unit 55 calculates theluminance value for each pixel, based upon the bled picture data set foreach pixel, for setting luminance data. The luminance value of a pixelto which flowed the ink, that is a pixel whose bled picture data has astatus "stop", is calculated by multiplying the absorbed ink quantity Uat the pixel with the ink density. For calculating the luminance value,the luminance value may be multiplied with a suitable coefficient fornormalization. The luminance value of a pixel on a figure yet to bebled, that is a pixel whose bled picture data has the status`originating", is set to a maximum value within the gamut of theluminance value, while the luminance value of a pixel to which no inkflowed, that is a pixel whose bled picture data has the status "stop",is set to `originating", is set to a maximum value within the gamut ofthe luminance value. It is assumed in the foregoing that the larger theluminance value, the greater become the ink quantity and ink density.However, the processing may naturally be performed on the assumptionthat the smaller the luminance value, the greater become the inkquantity and ink density.

At step ST5-41, the bled picture drawing unit 50 routes the luminancedata set for each pixel at step ST5-40 to the display device 5. Basedupon the luminance data, the display device 5 displays the bled figureon the display device 5.

In the above-described bled figure drawing processing, the bled picturedata is set on the assumption that no ink flows from a pixel to a givenpixel to which the ink previously flowed from another pixel. That is,when detecting the pixel connected by a capillary tube at step ST5-30,any pixel to which the ink previously flowed, that is a pixel the statusof the bled picture data of which is "flowing" or "stopped", is excludedfrom detection.

In effect, however, ink particles are likely to be diffused to a pixel,to which the ink previously flowed from a given pixel, from anotherpixel interconnected to the pixel by a capillary tube.

Thus the bled picture data may be set on the assumption that, if one ormore pixels connected by capillary tubes to the pixel P to which the inkpreviously flowed exist besides the pixel from which originated the inkflow to the pixel P, and the ink previously flowed to such one or morepixels interconnected by the capillary tubes to the pixel P, that is ifthe ink flow at the pixel P collides with the ink flow at the one ormore pixels connected to the pixel P by the capillary tubes, inkparticles become diffused between the pixel P and the one or morepixels, and hence need to be taken into account in setting the bledpicture data.

The method for setting the bled picture data for taking into account thediffusion of the ink particles in case of such collision of the inkflows is now explained by referring to FIG. 111.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 111, there exist a series of pixels A₁,A₂, A₃₁, A₄₂, A₅₂ interconnected by a capillary tube, a series of pixelsB₁, B₂, B₃, B₄₂, B₅₂ interconnected by a capillary tube, and a series ofpixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁ interconnected by a capillary tube, thepixels A₃ is connected by a capillary tube to the pixel A₄₁ and thepixel A₃ is connected to the pixel B₄₁, the ink flows through the pixelsA₁, A₂, A₃₁, A₄₂, A₅₂, in this order, as a first ink flow, this ink flowis branched at the pixel A₃ to flow towards the pixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁,the ink also flows through the pixels B₁, B₂, B₃₁, B₄₂, B₅₂, in thisorder, as a second ink flow and the ink flow is branched at the pixel B₃to flow towards the pixels B₅₁ and B₄₁.

In such case, the ink flowing to the pixel A₆₁ collides against the inkflowing to the pixel B₅₁. For setting the bled picture data forrespective pixels in such case, it suffices to compare the pressure ofthe ink flow at a pixel at the branching point to the pixel A₆₁, that isat the pixel A₃, to the pressure of the ink flow at a pixel at thebranching point to the pixel B₅₁, that is at the pixel B₃, and to assumethat, if the two pressures are equal to each other, there is produced noink particle diffusion, whereas, if the two pressures are not equal toeach other, diffusion between the two particles is continuing.

Since the pressures of the two ink flows at two pixels are larger at theinitial stage of bleeding diffusion and become smaller as the bleedingdiffusion progresses, it suffices to compare the number of steps as setin the bled picture data for the pixel A₃ and the number of steps as setin the bled picture data for the pixel B₃ for comparing the ink flowpressures at the two pixels.

If the number of steps as set in the bled picture data for the pixel A₃and the number of steps as set in the bled picture data for the pixel B₃are equal to each other, no diffusion of the ink particles occurs at thepixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁. Thus, for these pixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁,B₅₁, B₄₁, bled picture data are set in accordance with theabove-described flowchart.

Conversely, if the number of steps as set in the bled picture data forthe pixel A₃ is smaller than the number of steps as set in the bledpicture data for the pixel B₃, diffusion of the ink particles occurs atthe pixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁ in a direction of from the pixel A₄₁to the pixel B₄₁ until the first ink flow ceases. Thus, for the numberof ink flow stop steps for the bled picture data of these pixels A₄₁,A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁, the same value as that of the number of the ink flowstop steps for the pixel A₃, which is the ink flow branching point pixelfor these pixels, is set.

On the other hand, if the number of steps as set in the bled picturedata for the pixel B₃ is smaller than the number of steps as set in thebled picture data for the pixel A₃, diffusion of the ink particlesoccurs at the pixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁ in a direction of from thepixel B₄₁ to the pixel A₄₁ until the second ink flow ceases. Thus, forthe number of ink flow stop steps for the bled picture data of thesepixels A₄₁, A₅₁, A₆₁, B₅₁, B₄₁, the same value as that of the number ofthe ink flow stop steps for the pixel A₃, which is the ink flowbranching point pixel for these pixels, is set.

Thus the bled picture data may be set with the diffusion of inkparticles in case of collision of different ink streams taken intconsideration.

Although the example of two ink streams from two directions has beendescribed in the foregoing, the number of ink flow stop steps for bledpicture data in case of collision of three ink streams from threedifferent directions may similarly be set by comparing the number ofsteps of the bled picture data as set in the ink flow branching pointpixels with respect to the pixel at which the ink flow collision hasoccurred.

(6) Figure Display Example

FIG. 112 shows an example in which a Japanese kanji character reading"yume" (meaning "dream"), made up of ten strokes YU1 to YU10, as anexample of a blurred and bled figure, is actually displayed in theabove-described picture display system.

In the example shown in FIG. 112, the paper fiber structure data formingprocessor 30 forms paper fiber structure data, while the kanji character"yume" is formed by the font forming processor 30. The font reading"yume" is made up of ten stroke data corresponding to the ten strokedata YU1 to YU10.

The paper fiber structure data formed by the paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30 and the font reading "yume" formed by the fontforming processor 20 are read into the blurred figure drawing processor40 which then performs blurred figure drawing processing on therespective strokes YU1 to YU10 on the kanji character based upon thesepaper fiber structure data and the font of the kanji character in orderto set the ink quantity and ink density in the strokes YU1 to YU10 at atime point of drawing of the respective strokes YU1 to YU10.

The ink density and the ink quantity of the writing brush data, whichare data representing the state of the writing brush at the time pointof writing the respective strokes YU1 to YU10, are assumed to be thesame at all points on the writing brush. The ink quantity and the inkdensity of the writing brush data, associated with the strokes YU1 toYU10, are set as shown in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5    ______________________________________               writing brush data    strokes      ink quantity                           ink density    ______________________________________    YU1          0.50      0.45    YU2          0.43      0.45    YU3          0.10      0.45    YU4          0.15      0.45    YU5          0.47      0.45    YU6          0.47      0.45    YU7          0.15      0.45    YU8          0.15      0.45    YU9          0.10      0.45    YU10         0.30      0.45    ______________________________________

The blurring parameters for the strokes YU1 to YU10 were set as shown inTable 6.

                  TABLE 6    ______________________________________    strokes         c.sub.1                           c.sub.2                                c.sub.3                                     c.sub.4                                          c.sub.5                                               c.sub.6                                                    c.sub.7    ______________________________________    YU1   no blurred                    1.00   1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00          area    YU2   first blurred                    0.56   0.70 0.00 11/28                                          0.07 1/10 1.00          area          second    4/5    1.00 0.00 1/2  0.00 1/10 0.29          blurred area    YU3   first blurred                    1/3    0.63 0.00 1.00 0.13 1/6  1/3          area          second    2/3    0.76 0.00 1/2  0.13 0.13 0.4          blurred area    YU4   first blurred                    0.56   0.70 0.00 11/28                                          0.07 1/10 1.00          area          second    4/5    1.00 1.00 1/2  0.00 1/10 0.29          blurred area    YU5   no blurred                    1.00   1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00          area    YU6   no blurred                    1.00   1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00          area    YU7   first blurred                    0.17   1/3  0.00 1.00 0.13 0.13 0.86          area    YU8   first blurred                    0.23   0.83 0.00 1/3  1/6  1/6  0.42          area          second    0.43   0.76 0.00 1/2  1/10 0.13 0.38          blurred area    YU9   first blurred                    0.44   0.60 0.00 5/6  0.07 0.10 1.00          area          second     9/10  1.00 0.00  8/15                                          0.00 0.13 1.00          blurred area    YU10  no blurred                    1.00   1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00          area    ______________________________________

The paper fiber structure data, formed by the paper fiber structure dataforming processor 30, and the ink quantity and the ink density in thestrokes YU1 to YU10, as set in the blurred figure drawing processor 40,were read into the bled figure processor 50. The bled figure processor50 performs bled figure processing on the respective strokes YU1 to YU10of the kanji character for producing bleeding around the strokes YU1 toYU10 for drawing the kanji character reading "yume" which is blurred andbled, as shown in FIG. 112.

Thus it becomes possible with the picture display system of the presentinvention to express blurring and bleeding which appear as if thecharacter were actually written with a writing brush.

Meanwhile, it may occur that, when the figure is enlarged and displayedon the display device, the figure contour becomes jagged, as shown inFIG. 113. Thus, in computer graphics, antialiasing is carried out forsmoothing the figure contour for displaying the smoothed figure on thedisplay device.

The above-described bled figure drawing processing is also effective assuch antialiasing processing. That is, by processing the vicinity of thecontour potion with bled figure drawing processing, the figure contourmay be smoothed, as shown in FIG. 114. In addition, with theantialiasing processing, employing the bled figure drawing processing,the figure contour may be displayed on the display device so that thefigure will appear more like a figure actually drawn with a writingbrush than a figure drawn with antialiasing capable only of smoothingthe figure contour. The reason is that the contour of the figureactually drawn with the writing brush is not perfectly smooth butundergoes some bleeding.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for representing a blurred figure on adisplay device based upon picture data set in a plurality of pixels in afigure, comprising:reading first contour data including one or morecoordinate points A_(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lying on a first contourextending from a beginning point to an end point of the figure andsecond contour data including one or more coordinate points B_(j) (j=1,2, 3, . . . ) lying on a second contour extending from said beginningpoint to said end point; detecting a pixel P lying on a line segmentl_(k) interconnecting a k'th coordinate point A_(k) of said firstcontour data and a k'th coordinate point B_(k) of said second contourdata; judging, based upon blurred area data specifying a blurred area ofthe figure, whether or not said pixel P is within a blurred area;setting, if said pixel P is within the blurred area, ink absence dataspecifying the ink depleted state as picture data in the pixel P, andsetting, if said pixel P is not within the blurred area, ink presencedata specifying the ink carrying state is set as picture data in thepixel P; detecting a pixel Q on a line segment l_(k+1) interconnecting a(k+1)st coordinate point A_(k+1) of said first contour data and a(k+1)st coordinate point B_(k+1) of said second contour data; judging,based upon sad blurred area data, whether or not said pixel Q is withinthe blurred area; setting, if said pixel Q is within the blurred area,ink absence data specifying the ink depleted state as picture data inthe pixel Q, and setting, if said pixel Q is not within the blurredarea, ink presence data specifying the ink carrying state as picturedata in the pixel Q; detecting a pixel R lying on a line segmentinterconnecting said pixels P and Q; and setting picture data in saidpixel R as a function of respective picture data set in said pixels Pand Q.
 2. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 1further comprising supplementing a coordinate point between twoneighboring coordinate points A_(i) and A_(i+1) of said first contourdata, if the distance between said coordinate points A_(i) and A_(i+1)is larger than a pre-set value, so that the distance between theneighboring coordinate points will be not larger than the pre-set value,for forming new first coordinate data, or supplementing a coordinatepoint between two neighboring coordinate points B_(j) and B_(j+1) ofsaid second contour data, if the distance between coordinate pointsB_(j) and B_(j+1) is larger than a pre-set value, so that the distancebetween the neighboring coordinate points will be not larger than thepre-set value, for forming new second coordinate data; and detectingsaid pixels P and Q using said new first and second contour data.
 3. Theblurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingsupplementing coordinate points to said first contour data or to saidsecond contour data, if the number of the coordinate points of saidfirst contour data differs from the number of the coordinate points ofsaid second contour data, so that the number of the coordinate points ofsaid first contour data becomes equal to the number of the coordinatepoints of said second contour data, for forming new first contour dataor new second contour data; and detecting said pixels P and Q using saidnew first and second coordinate data.
 4. The blurred figure drawingmethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein said picture data has ink densitydata specifying the ink density, said ink density data being set in saidpixel P so that the ink becomes thicker the shorter a figure length fromsaid beginning point to the line segment l_(k), said ink density databeing set in said pixel Q so that the ink becomes thicker the shorter afigure length from said beginning point to the line segment l_(k+1). 5.The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 4 furthercomprising setting ink density data in the pixel R based upon inkdensity data set in the pixel P, ink density data set in the pixel Q,distance between the pixels P and R and the distance between the pixelsR and Q.
 6. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 1wherein said picture data has ink quantity data specifying the inkquantity,said ink quantity data being set in said pixel P so that theink quantity becomes larger the shorter the length of a figure from saidbeginning point to the line segment I_(k), said ink quantity data beingset in said pixel Q so that the ink quantity becomes larger the shorterthe length of a figure from said beginning point to the line segmentl_(k+1).
 7. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 6further comprising setting ink quantity data in the pixel R based uponink quantity data set in the pixel P, ink quantity data set in the pixelQ, distance between the pixels P and R and the distance between thepixels R and Q.
 8. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim1 further comprising:referring to pixel-based paper fiber structure dataincluding the number of fibers passing through each pixel; calculatingluminance of a pixel for which picture data has been set based upon saidpicture data and the number of fibers for the pixel for which thepicture data has been set; and representing a blurred figure on adisplay device based upon the calculated luminance.
 9. The blurredfigure drawing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blurred areadata is comprised of m blurring start lengths representing the lengthson m trajectories extending through the figure from a starting point toan end point thereof substantially parallel to said first or secondcontour which are started from said starting point and terminated atblurring start points where a blurring area starts, and m blurringterminating lengths representing the lengths on said m trajectoriesstarting from said starting point and terminating at blurring end pointswhere the blurring area is terminated.
 10. The blurred figure drawingmethod as claimed in claim 9 further comprising judging the pixel P tobe within or outside the blurred area if PS<L_(k) <PE, or L_(k) ≦PS orPE≦L_(k), respectively, and judging the pixel Q to be within or outsidethe blurred area if QS<L_(k+1) <QE, or L_(k+1) ≦QS or QE≦L_(k+1),respectively, where PS denotes the blurring start length of the blurringarea data on a trajectory passing through the pixel P, PE denotes theblurring end length of the blurring area data on a trajectory passingthrough the pixel P, QS denotes the blurring start length of theblurring area data on a trajectory passing through the pixel Q, QEdenotes the blurring end length of the blurring area data on atrajectory passing through the pixel Q, respectively, and L_(k), L_(k+1)denote the figure lengths from said starting point to line segmentsl_(k) and l_(k+1), respectively.
 11. The blurred figure drawing methodas claimed in claim 1 wherein there are plural blurred areas in afigure, a plurality of blurred area data are provided in associationwith each blurred area, and wherein it is judged whether or not thepixels P and Q are within the blurred area for each blurred area data.12. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising the step of determining a plurality of blurring parameters,wherein said blurring parameters includea parameter c₁ representing ablurring start position along the length of said figure from saidstarting point to said end point, a parameter c₂ representing theblurring end position along the length of the figure, a parameter c₃representing the upper blurring end position along the width of thefigure, a parameter c₄ representing the lower blurring end positionalong the width of the figure, a parameter c₅ representing the extent offluctuations of the blurring start position along the length of thefigure, a parameter c₆ representing the extent of fluctuations of theblurring end position along the length of the figure, and a parameter c₇representing the blurring density along the width of the figure, saidblurred area data being previously formed based upon said blurringparameters.
 13. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 12further comprising pre-setting a plurality of blurring parameters havingdifferent value combinations of said parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆and c₇, andforming said blurred area data based upon blurring parametersselected from among said plural blurring parameters.
 14. The blurredfigure drawing method as claimed in claim 12 further comprisingcalculating said parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆ and c₇ based uponspeed distribution data representing writing brush carrying speeddistribution data and writing brush pressure distribution datarepresenting the writing brush pressure distribution during drawing thefigure from the start point to the end point thereof, andusing thecalculated parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆ and c₇ as said blurringparameters.
 15. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 12further comprising calculating said parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆and c₇ based upon shape data specifying the shape of a figure, saidshape data having length data from the beginning point of said figure toan end point thereof, width data specifying the width of the figure,curvature data specifying the bend of the figure and curved point dataspecifying the number and the positions of bends at an angle larger thanthe pre-set angle; andusing the calculated parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄,c₅, c₆ and c₇ as said blurring parameters.
 16. The blurred figuredrawing method wherein there are present a plurality of said figures, asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising:selecting at least one of saidfigures in accordance with a pre-set rule; using the selected figure asa figure yet to be blurred; and setting picture data for producingblurring for only pixels within the figure yet to be blurred whilesetting picture data for not producing blurring for pixels within theremaining figures not to be blurred.
 17. The blurred figure drawingmethod as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pre-set rule states that afigure be selected from among said plural figures so that the ratio ofthe number of the selected blurred figures to the totality of thefigures is not larger than a pre-set value.
 18. The blurred figuredrawing method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pre-set ratio is 1/3.19. The blurred figure drawing method as claimed in claim 17 wherein thesequence of said plural figures is pre-set and wherein said pre-set rulestates that such a figure is selected from among said plural figureswhich has the largest figure length and longer figures are sequentiallyselected from among the remaining figures excluding both figures lyingahead and at back of said longest figure.
 20. The blurred figure drawingmethod as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pre-set rule states that afigure be selected from among said plural figures so that the ratio ofthe number of the selected blurred figures to the totality of thefigures is not larger than a pre-set value, and that one of theremaining figures be selected at random.
 21. An apparatus forrepresenting a blurred figure on a display device based upon picturedata set in a plurality of pixels in a figure, comprising:means forreading first contour data including one or more coordinate points A_(i)(i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lying on a first contour extending from a beginningpoint to an end point of the figure and second contour data includingone or more coordinate points B_(j) (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) lying on asecond contour extending from said beginning point to said end point;first pixel detection means for detecting pixels on a line segment l_(i)interconnecting a coordinate point A_(i) of the first contour data and acoordinate point B_(i) of the second contour data based upon the firstcontour data and the second contour data supplied from said data readoutmeans; first picture data setting means for judging, based upon blurredarea data specifying a blurred area of the figure, whether or not thepixel detected by said first pixel detection means is within a blurredarea; setting, if said pixel is within the blurred area, ink absencedata specifying the ink depleted state as picture data in the pixel, andsetting, if said pixel is not within the blurred area, ink presence dataspecifying the ink carrying state as picture data in the pixel; secondpixel detection means for detecting a pixel positioned intermediatebetween the pixel lying on said line segment l_(i) set by said firstpixel setting means and a pixel lying on the line segment l_(i+1) ; andsecond picture data setting means for setting picture data on the pixeldetected by said second pixel detection means as a function of thepicture data of the pixel lying on the line segment l_(i) detected bysaid first picture data setting means and the picture data of the pixellying on the line segment l_(i+1).
 22. The blurred figure drawingapparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said data readout means furthercomprises contour data supplementing means for supplementing acoordinate point between two neighboring coordinate points A_(i) andA_(i+1) on said first contour data so that the distance between theneighboring coordinate points will be not larger than a pre-set value,if said distance is larger than the pre-set value, for producing newfirst coordinate data, said contour data supplementing means forsupplementing a coordinate point between two neighboring coordinatepoints B_(i) and B_(i+1) on said second contour data so that thedistance between the neighboring coordinate points will be not largerthan a pre-set value, if said distance is larger than the pre-set value,for producing new second coordinate data.
 23. The blurred figure drawingapparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said data readout meansincludes contour data adjustment means for supplementing coordinatepoints to said first contour data or to said second contour data, if thenumber of the coordinate points of said first contour data differs fromthe number of the coordinate points of said second contour data, so thatthe number of the coordinate points of said first contour data becomesequal to the number of the coordinate points of said second contourdata, for forming new first contour data or new second contour data. 24.The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein saidpicture data has ink density data specifying the ink quantity, andwherein said first picture data setting means has first ink densitysetting means for setting ink density data in the pixel detected by saidfirst pixel detection means so that the ink density becomes higher theshorter the length of the figure from said starting point to said linesegment l_(i).
 25. The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed inclaim 21 wherein said second picture data setting means for calculatingthe ink density in the pixel detected by said second pixel detectionmeans based upon the ink density data set for pixels on two neighboringline segments l_(i) and l_(i+1) by said first ink density setting means,distance between the pixel on the line segment l_(i) and the pixeldetected by said second pixel detection means and the distance betweenthe pixel detected by said second pixel detection means and the linesegment l_(i+1) for setting ink density data on said pixels.
 26. Theblurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein saidpicture data has ink density data specifying the ink quantity, andwherein said first picture data setting means has first ink densitysetting means for setting ink density data in the pixel detected by saidfirst pixel detection means so that the ink quantity becomes larger theshorter the length of the figure from said starting point to said linesegment l_(i).
 27. The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed inclaim 26 wherein said second picture data setting means for calculatingthe ink quantity in the pixel detected by said second pixel detectionmeans based upon the ink quantity data set for pixels on two neighboringline segments l_(i) and l_(i+1) by said first ink quantity settingmeans, distance between the pixel on the line segment l_(i) and thepixel detected by said second pixel detection means and the distancebetween the pixel detected by said second pixel detection means and theline segment l_(i+1) for setting ink quantity data on said pixels. 28.The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 furthercomprising luminance data calculating means for referring to pixel-basedpaper fiber structure data including the number of fibers passingthrough each pixel for calculating luminance of a pixel for whichpicture data has been set based upon said picture data and the number offibers for the pixel for which the picture data has been set; a blurredfigure being represented on a display device based upon the pixel-basedluminance data set by sad luminance data calculating means.
 29. Theblurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein saidblurred area data is comprised of m blurring start lengths representingthe lengths on m trajectories extending through the figure from astarting point to an end point thereof substantially parallel to saidfirst or second contour which are started from said starting point andterminated at blurring start points where the blurring area starts, andm blurring terminating lengths representing the lengths on said mtrajectories starting from said starting point and terminating atblurring end points where the blurring area is terminated.
 30. Theblurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein thepixel P is judged to be within or outside the blurred area if PS<L_(k)<PE, or L_(k) ≦PS or PE≦L_(k), respectively, and judging the pixel Q tobe within or outside the blurred area if QS<L_(k+1) <QE, or L_(k+1) ≦QSor QE≦L_(k+1), respectively, where PS denotes the blurring start lengthof the blurring area data on a trajectory passing through the pixel P,PE denotes the blurring end length of the blurring area data on atrajectory passing through the pixel P, QS denotes the blurring startlength of the blurring area data on a trajectory passing through thepixel Q, QE denotes the blurring end length of the blurring area data ona trajectory passing through the pixel Q, respectively, and L_(k),L_(k+1) denote the figure lengths from said starting point to linesegments l_(k) and l_(k+1), respectively.
 31. The blurred figure drawingapparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein there are plural blurred areasin a figure, a plurality of blurred area data are provided inassociation with each blurred area, and wherein said first picture datasetting means judges whether or not the pixels detected by said firstpixel detection means for each blurred area are within the blurred area.32. The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 furthercomprising blurring parameter setting means for setting a plurality ofblurring parameters comprised of a parameter c₁ representing a blurringstart position along the length of said figure from said starting pointto said end point, a parameter c₂ representing the blurring end positionalong the length of the figure, a parameter c₃ representing the upperblurring end position along the width of the figure, a parameter c₄representing the lower blurring end position along the width of thefigure, a parameter c₅ representing the extent of fluctuations of theblurring start position along the length of the figure, a parameter c₆representing the extent of fluctuations of the blurring start positionalong the length of the figure, and a parameter c₇ representing theblurring density along the width of the figure, and blurred area dataforming means for forming said blurred area data based upon the blurringparameters set by said blurred parameter setting means.
 33. The blurredfigure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said blurringparameter setting means has blurring parameter selecting means forselecting one blurring parameter from among a plurality of pre-formedblurring parameters having different value combinations of saidparameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆ and c₇.
 34. The blurred figure drawingapparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said blurring parameter settingmeans has first blurring parameter calculating means for calculatingsaid parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆ and c₇ based upon speeddistribution data representing writing brush carrying speed distributionand writing brush pressure distribution data representing the writingbrush pressure distribution during drawing the figure from the startpoint to the end point thereof for setting said blurring parameters. 35.The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein saidinput device is a tablet and wherein he movement speed and the writingpressure of the pen are entered as said speed distribution data and assaid writing brush pressure distribution data, respectively.
 36. Theblurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein saidblurring parameter setting means has second blurring parametercalculating means for calculating said parameters c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄, c₅, c₆and c₇ based upon shape data specifying the shape of a figure havinglength data from the beginning point of said figure to an end pointthereof, width data specifying the width of the figure, curvature dataspecifying the bend of the figure and curved point data specifying thenumber and the positions of bends at an angle larger than the pre-setangle for setting the blurring parameters.
 37. The blurred figuredrawing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 further comprising contour datareadout means for reading a plurality of full-contour data made up offirst contour data and second contour data; and contour data selectingmeans supplied from said contour data readout means for selecting atleast one full-contour data from the supplied plural full-contour datain accordance with a pre-set rule; a figure represented by thefull-contour data selected by said contour data selecting means beingblurred in figure drawing and a figure represented by the full-contourdata not selected by said contour data selecting means not being blurredin figure drawing.
 38. The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimedin claim 37 wherein said pre-set rule states that a figure be selectedfrom among said plural figures so that the ratio of the number of theselected blurred figures to the totality of the figures is not largerthan a pre-set value.
 39. The blurred figure drawing apparatus asclaimed in claim 37 wherein said pre-set rule states that thefull-contour data be selected from among said plural full-contour dataso that the ratio of the number of the selected full-contour to thetotality of the full-contour data is not larger than a pre-set value,and that one of the remaining full-contour data be selected at random.40. The blurred figure drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 37 whereinsaid pre-set ratio is 1/3.
 41. The blurred figure drawing apparatus asclaimed in claim 37 wherein the sequence of said plural full-contour ispre-set and wherein said pre-set rule states that such full-contour isselected from among said plural full-contour which has the largestfull-contour data length and longer full-contour data is sequentiallyselected from among the remaining full-contour data excluding bothfull-contour data lying ahead and at back of said longest full-contourdata.